By Stuart Gordon The federal government recently eliminated supplemental provider fees it provided under the Medicare program to obtain intravenous immunoglobulin therapies (IVIG) , citing “stability in the market.” But safety-net hospitals have a different experience; they say it’s becoming increasingly difficult to access the widely used blood products at 340B … [Read more...]
New HRSA Guidelines May Hamper Health Center Innovation
New HRSA guidelines could stymie health center innovations.By Stuart Gordon The Obama Administration’s efforts to expand community health center services could be complicated by new guidelines that set conditions for centers that seek the agency’s approval to add specialty services. This, in turn, could limit health center use or 340B drugs for specialty care where potential savings is often most attractive. The problem: A Health … [Read more...]
HRSA Seeks Prime Vendor Bids
Proposals are due April 20, 2009.By Stuart Gordon March 25, 2009 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced in a March 20 request for proposals that it’s seeking candidates to serve as the 340B Prime Vendor for the next five years. Interested organizations have until 10 a.m. on April 20, 2009, to submit a proposal, although HRSA reserves the right to select a prime vendor … [Read more...]
Bill to Reform 340B Program Gains Early Traction
HR 444 is off to a good start in Congress. The bill would strengthen and widen the 340B program, sponsors say.By Rob Recklaus Calling the current 340B drug discount program too limited in scope and application, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush re-introduced the 340B Program Improvement and Integrity Act Jan. 9. The lead co-sponsors of the bill are Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) and Bart Stupak (D-Mo). Supporters of the bill say that the legislation may, for the first time in its 5-year history, … [Read more...]
Appeals Court Reconsiders 340B Drug Data Review
Santa Clara County gets a second chance to argue its drug overcharging case in federal court.By Stuart Gordon and Karin Rives Santa Clara County’s dogged challenge of drug manufacturers’ 340B drug pricing data has taken a new turn. A federal appeals court decided Feb. 4 to review its earlier decision to limit the county’s probe of the closely held pricing components, a move sure to worry drug makers protective of such data. If the appeals court reconsiders its … [Read more...]
Merck Adds Gardasil, Other Vaccines to PAP for Public Hospitals, Clinics
Merck’s free vaccines were off limits to publicly funded pharmacies. An L.A. pharmacist protested the policy—and won.By Karin Rives Los Angeles County, population 10 million, has four 340B-covered hospitals and more than 20 health clinics that serve 2 million patients annually. In addition to the discounts they receive through the 340B program, county pharmacies rely to a large extent on patient assistance programs, or PAPs, to provide free drugs to area residents. So when Gardasil, a … [Read more...]
Patient Definition Still Stands—But for How Long?
The definition of patient still stands. The 340B community is cautiously optimistic President Obama will leave it alone.By Karin Rives In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a patient is defined simply as “an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment.” In the complex world of federal healthcare policy, the definition of a single noun can determine whether or not patients get critical care, or whether safety-net pharmacies lose or save millions of dollars – as 340B providers are well … [Read more...]