May 7, 2013—A federal district judge has ordered California to stop requiring 340B health care providers to "carve in" all Medicaid patients and to bill the state for 340B drugs given to such patients at actual acquisition cost (AAC). Acting in a case brought by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real issued a permanent injunction on May 3 … [Read more...]
Illinois Fleshes Out 340B Participation Requirement
Regulations and guidelines answer many, but not all, questionsMay 6, 2013—The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has reversed a decision it made earlier this year to require 340B contract pharmacies to use 340B drugs for Medicaid patients beginning this July. In a recent statement on its website, the department said it was putting the requirement on indefinite hold. "In the contract pharmacy scenario, the pharmacy … [Read more...]
340B Orphan Drug Rule Review Passes 90-Day Mark
HRSA says it is still working with OMB to finalize regulationMay 2, 2013—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) "is continuing to work" with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on a final regulation to implement the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) restriction on 340B discounts for orphan drugs purchased by hospitals that became eligible for 340B under health care reform, a HRSA spokesperson said this … [Read more...]
Fewer 340B Audits Due to Sequestration?
HRSA says number isn't final, but sources say it's in the 50 to 75 rangeApril 26, 2013—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) might have to significantly reduce the number of audits of 340B covered entities it plans to perform this year due to automatic federal spending cuts that began on March 1. During a December meeting of hospital pharmacists, Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) Director Cmdr. Krista Pedley said there would be … [Read more...]
Georgia 340B Hospital in Crosshairs After Remarks on TV
Lawmakers say official's comments on Fox program prompted inquiryApril 22, 2013—Two members of Congress have written to a Georgia 340B hospital after one of its officials appeared on national television to respond to a drug industry white paper that alleges misuse of the program. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) sent a letter to Columbus (Ga.) Regional Healthcare System on April 18 seeking information by May 2 … [Read more...]
President Once Again Proposes a 340B User Fee
Budget also has language that would disqualify some hospitals from programApril 11, 2013—The Obama administration is proposing once again to help finance the 340B drug discount program with a 0.1 percent fee (or a penny on every $10) on 340B drug purchases. The user fee was included in the President's proposed budget for fiscal 2014 released yesterday.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] The upcoming fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Just last month, the … [Read more...]
HRSA Partially Extends 340B GPO Exclusion Deadline to Aug. 7
Extra time granted only to hospitals unable to meet original April 7 dateApril 9, 2013—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has given certain 340B hospitals that could not meet an April 7 deadline to change their drug purchasing and replenishment systems a four month extension. Hospitals that were able to make the changes on time were required to do so by the end of the day Sunday.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] The switch is … [Read more...]