April 23, 2010 - A late change to the federal health care reform law has left many hospitals newly eligible for 340B drug discounts questioning the value of enrolling in the program. It might even prompt some children's hospitals to consider withdrawing from the program just months after finally obtaining access to 340B pricing. The amendment, which House Democratic leaders … [Read more...]
Deadline for Applications Passes in Search for Mitchell’s Successor
April 16, 2010 - The first major milestone in the task of replacing Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) Director Jimmy Mitchell has been reached. The deadline for applications for the job Mitchell has held since 1997 passed at 11:59 p.m. on April 14. The long-time director, 68, announced his retirement in late January, citing the need to attend to his health and his and his … [Read more...]
340B Reforms Could Take Months to Implement, OPA Warns
Agency says newly eligible hospitals might not be able to enroll by upcoming July 1 quarterly deadline.April 16, 2010 - Although the health care reform bill recently signed into law by President Obama calls for its 340B provisions to take effect immediately, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) officials are telling stakeholders the agency will be unable to implement those provisions for at least a number of months due to the scope of the changes to the 340B … [Read more...]
Judge Dismisses Suit Challenging California’s Ban on 340B Carve-Outs
April 13, 2010 - The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) says it will appeal a federal district judge's recent dismissal of its challenge to a 2009 California law that drastically cut the reimbursements safety-net providers get from the state Medicaid agency when dispensing or administering prescription drugs to Medicaid outpatients. Backgrounder: The 340B Medicaid … [Read more...]
340B Champion Bart Stupak Announces Retirement from Congress
Eighteen-year veteran supported expansion and tougher oversight of drug-discount program.April 9, 2010 - U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), a longtime supporter of safety-net health care providers and expansion of the 340B drug discount program, announced today he will not seek re-election and retire after 18 years in Congress. Stupak was instrumental in efforts to expand the 340B program to new hospitals in the new health care reform law. He was an original … [Read more...]
Obama Set to Sign Health Reform Bill; 340B Inpatient Provision Not Restored
Congress has completed action on a sweeping health care reform package without restoring the inpatient expansion of the 340B drug discount program included in earlier versions of the plan.March 29, 2010 - Congress has completed action on a sweeping health care reform package without restoring the inpatient expansion of the 340B drug discount program included in earlier versions of the plan. The bill approved by the U.S. House on March 25 was a companion to the main health care bill that President Obama signed into law on March 23. He is scheduled to sign the … [Read more...]
340B Providers, Industry Mull New Contract Pharmacy Guidelines
Both sides win some, lose some under new HRSA rules due to take effect on April 5.March 22, 2010 - The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) long-awaited multiple contract pharmacy guidelines will provide 340B covered entities with a long-desired way of enhancing pharmacy care for outpatients. But the rules also will come with many unexpected new strings attached to guard against drug diversion and duplicate discounts. Those safeguards, … [Read more...]