September 9, 2014—Express Scripts, the nation's largest pharmacy benefit manager, has withdrawn from the drug industry led Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] "I can confirm that we are no longer a member," Express Scripts Vice President for Corporate Communications Brian Henry wrote in Sept. 8 email. The company declined further … [Read more...]
Health Centers Will Recertify 340B Eligibility in February
In webinar, HRSA also discusses requirements centers must meet for initial registrationSeptember 8, 2014—The next 340B eligibility recertification period for federally qualified health centers and look-alikes will be in February 2015, Health Resources and Services Administration officials said during a webinar today.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] Hospital recertification began last month and will end this Wednesday, Sept. 10. Health centers last went through … [Read more...]
HRSA Audited 99 Health Care Providers for 340B Compliance in Fiscal 2014
Number of contract pharmacy locations audited more than doubled, to over 4,000September 8, 2014—The Health Resources and Services Administration audited 99 health care providers for compliance with 340B requirements in fiscal year 2014, encompassing more than 1,470 offsite outpatient facilities and more than 4,000 contract pharmacy locations, a HRSA spokesperson said today.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] The current fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. In … [Read more...]
CMS Sees Drug Spending Outpacing Overall Health Spending in Coming Years
Also, Part D premiums are holding steady, but for how long?September 5, 2014—Prescription drug spending growth is expected to accelerate from 3.3 percent in 2013 to 6.8 percent this year, primarily due to greater drug utilization by the newly insured and those who have switched to more generous insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act's coverage expansions, according to federal health expenditure projections published this week by … [Read more...]
Nonprofit Hospitals’ Revenue Growth Hits All-Time Low
Median operating margin fell to 2.0% in 2013, Moody's reportsSeptember 3, 2014—Nonprofit hospital expenses outpaced revenues for the second straight year in 2013, forcing their median operating margin down to 2.0 percent, the lowest it's been since the 2008-09 recession, according to a report released by Moody’s Investor Service. [ms-protect-content id="2799"] Nonprofit hospital revenue grew by an all-time low of 3.9 percent, while … [Read more...]
Judge Closes PhRMA’s 340B Orphan Drug Lawsuit
Says drugmakers can't contest new interpretive rule via their winning case against preceding legislative ruleAugust 27, 2014—Drug manufacturers are free to challenge the new 340B orphan drug exclusion "interpretative" rule, but they cannot do so as part of their successful lawsuit against the orphan drug "legislative" rule that came before, a federal district judge ruled this morning. [ms-protect-content id="2799"] Judge Rudolph Contreras' order and final judgment in the case today … [Read more...]
Most Drugmakers Not Following HRSA’s 340B Orphan Drug Interpretive Rule
340B Prime Vendor says it is aware of "at least five" that are offering 340B pricingAugust 22, 2014—Most drugmakers reportedly are not extending 340B pricing on orphan drugs to rural and freestanding cancer hospitals despite the Health Resources and Services Administration's position that they are required by law to do so. [ms-protect-content id="2799"] Apexus, the 340B Prime Vendor, said in latest Pharmacy Flash email newsletter that "at least five … [Read more...]