Cancer patients treated in hospital outpatient departments are almost four times more likely than those treated in physician offices to be uninsured or covered by Medicaid, a new study commissioned by the American Hospital Association shows. They also tend to be sicker and come from lower-income communities. Unlike other studies that have erroneously examined the zip codes of … [Read more...]
Study: Hospital Cancer Clinics See Four Times More Poor Patients as Private Clinics
Patients are sicker and have more complex conditionsNovember 21, 2014—Cancer patients treated in hospital outpatient departments are almost four times more likely than those treated in physician offices to be uninsured or covered by Medicaid, a new study commissioned by the American Hospital Association shows. These patients also tend to be sicker and come from lower-income communities.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] Unlike … [Read more...]
Briefing Schedule Set for Second 340B Orphan Drug Lawsuit
Judge who heard first case will hear the follow-upNovember 20, 2014—Final briefs in the drug industry's second lawsuit over the 340B orphan drug exclusion will be due in late March 2015, under a federal district court scheduling order filed this week. [ms-protect-content id="2799"] Judge Rudolph Contreras, who presided over Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's first suit against the Department of Health … [Read more...]
27 Senators Urge President to Protect Critical Access Hospitals
Don't repeat proposals from prior budgets in FY 2016 request, they askNovember 20, 2014—A bipartisan group of 27 U.S. Senators has asked President Obama not to weaken critical access hospitals in his forthcoming fiscal year 2016 budget request to Congress. [ms-protect-content id="2799"] The President's last three budget proposals called for reducing CAHs’ enhanced cost-based Medicare payments from 101 percent of reasonable costs to 100 … [Read more...]
PhRMA Pushes to Reopen 340B Statute on Capitol Hill
Hospitals say legislative changes could put program in jeopardyThe drug industry has announced it wants Congress to reopen the original 340B law to give the Health Resources and Services Administration additional rule- making authority to regulate the program. [ms-protect-content id="2799"] The move comes on the heels of the agency’s announcement last week that it would withdraw the so-called “mega-reg” from consideration at the Office … [Read more...]
Goodbye, 340B Mega-Reg. Hello, 340B Guidance
Welcome back, proposed rules on manufacturer sanctions and dispute resolutionNovember 14, 2014—The Health Resources and Services Administration said for the record this morning that, in 2015, it "plans to issue a proposed guidance for notice and comment that will address key policy issues raised by various stakeholders committed to the integrity of the 340B program." [ms-protect-content id="2799"] At the same time and in the same notice on the … [Read more...]
Congress Asked to Investigate Genentech’s Specialty-Drug Switch
10 major academic medical centers seek expedited reviewNovember 14, 2014—Ten of the nation's leading academic medical centers have asked Congress to investigate Genentech's decision to move the world’s three top-selling cancer drugs into the more expensive specialty distribution channel. [ms-protect-content id="2799"] Genentech’s decision about Rituxan, Avastin, and Herceptin, which took effect Oct. 1, "will adversely affect … [Read more...]