The American Hospital Association has designed an informative 340B infographic that puts the program’s benefits and vital statistics on one page. This is an outstanding illustration and we encourage you to pass it along to others. Among the highlights: 66: Percentage of all uncompensated care provided by 340B hospitals 1.6 to 3.2: Billions of dollars per year in savings for … [Read more...]
No Change in Medicare Part B Drug Payments for 2014
CMS releases hospital outpatient department payment final ruleDecember 4, 2013—Medicare Part B next year will continue paying hospitals for the acquisition and overhead costs of specified high-cost outpatient drugs at the same rate as in 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] CMS set the calendar year 2014 payment rate for so-called “separately paid drugs and biologicals … [Read more...]
AIDS Group Files Third 340B Overcharging Lawsuit
AHF seeks $2 million plus interest from AbbVie and AbbottDecember 3, 2013—The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has filed a third lawsuit—this time, against drug manufacturer AbbVie and its progenitor company Abbott—alleging it was overcharged for HIV/AIDS drugs subject to 340B drug discounts. Abbott and AbbVie became separate companies in January 2013.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] AHF sued the companies in California Superior … [Read more...]
How the 340B Program Really Works
It’s worth remembering that Congress created the 340B program more than 20 years ago to require highly profitable drug manufacturers to provide safety-net hospitals and clinics with discounted pricing on outpatient medications. In turn, the hospitals and clinics pass on a price break to low-income patients and other vulnerable populations. Congress also intended for these … [Read more...]
Alliance for Integrity Members Required to Return Millions to Taxpayers
It doesn't pass the smell test when your critics demanding integrity have once again coughed up millions to settle a massive Medicaid billing fraud suit. Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) members Eli Lilly and Baxter Healthcare have together returned $2.9 million to the state of Louisiana for allegedly overcharging the state’s Medicaid program. The final … [Read more...]
NYC 340B Hospitals Brace for ACA Charity-Care Cuts
The 340B drug discount program becomes more essential by the minute as safety-net hospitals face steep shortfalls in federal assistance under the Affordable Care Act. The Wall Street Journal reports today (subscription required) about how many of New York City's "financially strapped" 340B hospitals "are scrambling to sign up people for health coverage through New York state's … [Read more...]
TogetherRx Access Closes Doors on 2M customers
TogetherRx Access, a drug discount card program sponsored by drug companies, is being discontinued as of Feb. 28, 2014. The reason? Big Pharma says participants will get a better deal on prescriptions by getting insured through the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid. “We have determined that individuals and families who need help obtaining their prescription medicines may be … [Read more...]