March 4, 2011—President Obama has signed a two-week temporary spending bill for the federal government that cuts roughly $400 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) budget. Funding for the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) remains steady at $2.2 million under the bill, which expires on March 18. The millions erased from HRSA's budget were for … [Read more...]
Access our quarterly print newsletter!
The Drug Discount Monitor is now producing an enhanced print edition four times a year. It's replacing our old monthly edition.March 2, 2011 - The Drug Discount Monitor is now producing an enhanced print edition four times a year. It's replaced our old monthly newsletter and gives you a compilation of our best recent online articles. Please contact Tom Mirga attom.mirga@340binformed.associationbreeze.com or 202-552-5853 to let us know if you want to receive the quarterly print edition by mail for a … [Read more...]
OPA Scales Back 340B Technical Assistance
Pulls the plug on toll-free calls for manufacturers and other non-provider stakeholders.March 2, 2011 - The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) announced major cutbacks in its technical assistance (TA) program yesterday. OPA Director Krista Pedley warned last month that the cuts were coming, saying that they were being forced by the drug discount program's expansion without a corresponding increase in funding. "In order to maximize existing limited … [Read more...]
340B Advocate Bingaman Won’t Seek Reelection to U.S. Senate
Republican Thune, another 340B champion, decides against run for president.February 24, 2011—Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, who is widely considered the U.S. Senate's leading authority on 340B issues, will retire when his current term expires following the 2012 elections. The five-term veteran made the announcement on Feb. 18 in Albuquerque. Meanwhile, GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, another strong 340B supporter, has decided not to seek his … [Read more...]
OPA to Announce Cutbacks in 340B Technical Assistance
Some stakeholders will get no assistance while others will see their services reduced.February 17, 2011—The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) will formally announce in coming days that, due to a shortage of funding, it will no longer provide free technical assistance to all 340B stakeholders and will provide covered entities with differing levels of service depending on their types. OPA Director Krista Pedley disclosed the cutbacks on Feb. 10 during the 340B … [Read more...]
Focus on Health Care Fraud Likely to Continue This Year and Beyond
Request for doubling of funds, scads of pending whistleblower cases signal more scrutiny of drug makers.February 16, 2011—Last year, the federal government won or negotiated a record $2.5 billion in health care fraud judgments and settlements, with much of that amount coming from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Now, with the Obama administration seeking $581 million for health care fraud and abuse control in fiscal 2012—nearly double the current amount—and with nearly 200 active … [Read more...]
HRSA Sends Draft Orphan Drug Regulations to OMB for Review
Rules are expected to define the conditions under which the prohibition applies.February 16, 2011—The Health and Human Resources Administration (HRSA) has sent the White House Office of Management and Budget (OBM) draft proposed regulations to implement health care reform's partial prohibition on 340B discounts for orphan drugs. OMB, which reviews all federal rules prior to their publication in the Federal Register, received the draft from HRSA on Feb. … [Read more...]