October 1, 2010—Children's hospitals received some good news earlier this week in their fight to restore their 340B discounts on orphan drugs. Seven Republican U.S. senators introduced legislation on Sept. 28 to lift the ban on the hospitals' purchase of approximately 350 high-priced products used for oncology and other complicated disease states at 340B discounted prices. … [Read more...]
U.S. Supreme Court Accepts Santa Clara 340B Overcharging Case, While HHS Inspector Announces Major Crackdown on Drug Companies’ Average Manufacturer Price Reporting
September 28, 2010—The U.S. Supreme Court agreed today to review a federal appellate court decision recognizing the right of 340B covered entities to sue drug manufacturers for allegedly charging them prices above the program's statutorily defined ceiling prices. The Department of Health and Human Services' Inspector General, meanwhile, announced a major new enforcement … [Read more...]
OPA Begins Rule-making for 340B Dispute Resolution and Manufacturer Fines for Overcharges
Comments on both are due by Nov. 19.September 20, 2010—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) formally invited 340B stakeholders today to begin providing their best advice on forthcoming regulations to create an administrative dispute resolution process for the outpatient drug discount program and for fines against drug companies that deliberately overcharge providers for drugs. The … [Read more...]
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The Drug Discount Monitor is now producing an enhanced print edition four times a year. It's replacing our old monthly edition.September 14, 2010—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 … [Read more...]
Small Provision in Health Care Reform Law Could Have a Big Effect on Drug Settlements
Entire companies, not just business units, would face exclusion from Medicaid and 340B.September 14, 2010—A small provision in the new federal health care reform law could have a big effect on federal government settlements with drug companies accused of overcharging state Medicaid programs and 340B providers. Before the new law, companies being investigated or sued by the government for alleged pricing violations could have a subsidiary plead guilty to the … [Read more...]
New Health Insurance Exchanges Could Expand 340B’s Reach
Private insurers will have to contract with 340B providers in order to join the new markets.September 14, 2010—The federal health care reform provision requiring states to create health insurance exchanges for low-income Americans and small businesses could broaden the reach of the 340B drug discount program significantly. A key element of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the exchanges will be regulated markets for the purchase of affordable private health insurance. … [Read more...]
CMS Proposes Hike in Medicare Part B Drug Payments, Lower Inpatient Reimbursement
Agency will pay all hospitals at the same rate regardless of 340B status.September 14, 2010—Medicare reimbursement to hospital outpatient facilities would rise by 2.2 percent overall in 2011 above this year's level, including a 2 percent increase in the payment rate for separately payable drugs and biologicals, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have proposed. At the same time, however, CMS has called for a reduction in Medicare … [Read more...]