August 6, 2014— Sovaldi and other expensive new hepatitis C drugs will increase federal Medicare Part D spending by $2.9 billion to $5.8 billion in 2015 and raise Part D premiums by as much as 8.6 percent, pharmacy benefit management companies warn in a new report.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association released the report on July 29. It … [Read more...]
340B: A Program That Transcends Party Affiliation
According to the policy magazine National Journal, Congress is more polarized now than ever before. That why it's especially noteworthy that more than 100 members from both parties and all parts of the political spectrum have signed letters expressing “strong bipartisan support for the 340B drug discount program,” which the lawmakers say allows "hundreds of hospitals and other … [Read more...]
Over 100 Members of Congress Express Bipartisan Support for 340B
Drug discounts let hospitals and others "do more with less," they sayJuly 31, 2014—More than 100 members of Congress have signed letters expressing “bipartisan support” for the 340B drug discount program, which the lawmakers say allows "hundreds of hospitals and other safety net providers across the country to do more with less."[ms-protect-content id="2799"] The Congressional letters say that 340B facilitates "access to health care services … [Read more...]
In Reversal, Amgen Decides to Continue Offering 340B Pricing on Orphan Drugs
Decision announced soon after interpretive rule's releaseJuly 31, 2014—In response to the Health Resources and Services Administration's new 340B orphan drug exclusion interpretive rule, the biopharmaceutical manufacturer Amgen has decided to continue providing 340B pricing on its orphan-designated products to critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural referral centers, and free-standing cancer … [Read more...]
CMS Official Speaks About 340B Duplicate Discounts in Managed Care
Responsibility for prevention rests with states and Medicaid MCOs, Fine saysJuly 30, 2014—It is incumbent on the states and their Medicaid managed care contractors to ensure that drugmakers are protected against paying both a 340B discount and a Medicaid rebate on drugs provided to Medicaid managed care enrollees, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services senior pharmacy official said earlier this month during a meeting of 340B … [Read more...]
Without 340B, “We Would Be Forced to Cut Back Services and Close Cancer Clinics”
Without the 340B program, hospitals serving huge percentages of needy patients "would be forced to cut back services and close cancer clinics that help the underserved," prominent oncologists at two academic medical centers write in Forbes.com today. "We see the benefits from 340B every day," say Dr. Robert Chapman of Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and Dr. Andres Wiernik … [Read more...]
Senate Subcommittee Would Provide Up to $17 Million for 340B Program
Urges HRSA to move forward on pricing transparencyJuly 29, 2014—Senate appropriators have released a draft federal health spending bill for fiscal year 2015 that would provide $10.2 million in appropriated funds for 340B program administration.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education released the draft bill and an accompanying draft report on … [Read more...]