April 4, 2013—The Senate Judiciary Committee's senior Republican has asked the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) why it does not collect data on how much revenue safety-net providers derive from the 340B drug discount program, what is the payer mix for the 340B drugs they administer or dispense, and how they use 340B savings to meet program goals. Sen. … [Read more...]
Recent Court Decision May Impact Some Hospitals’ 340B Eligibility
Ruling is latest twist in dispute over how to calculate disproportionate share percentageApril 2, 2013—A recent ruling in the ongoing legal battle over how to calculate safety-net hospitals' disproportionate share (DSH) percentages could affect some hospitals’ participation in the 340B drug discount program. In its March 27 decision in Metropolitan Hospital v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld a … [Read more...]
OPA Streamlines 340B Contract Pharmacy Registration
Agency automates some steps in process and adds language to certification statementMarch 25, 2013—Health care providers in the 340B program will notice changes in the contract pharmacy enrollment process the next time they use the 340B database to register a new pharmacy. The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) described the changes, which take effect with the upcoming April 1-15 quarterly registration period, during a March 20 webinar.[ms-protect-content … [Read more...]
OPA’s 340B GPO Exclusion Deadline Still April 7
Unless it hears about barriers directly from hospitals, no change is foreseen, Pedley saysMarch 25, 2013—Although associations representing 340B hospitals have told the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) that many cannot meet an April 7 deadline to comply with a new policy clarification on group purchasing, the federal agency has yet to hear that from individual hospitals, OPA Dir. Cmdr. Krista Pedley said last week. And "unless we hear from you around what some of … [Read more...]
340B Recertification Deadline Pushed Back Again
Health centers and others now have until March 22March 19, 2013— The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) has given community health centers and six other types of 340B covered entities another extension of time to recertify their eligibility for the drug discount program. Health centers and center "look-alikes," hemophilia treatment centers, urban Indian programs, tribal contract/638 programs, black lung programs, and Native … [Read more...]
Senate Rejects Spending Bill Amendment That Had 340B User Fee
Obama administration expected to resurrect proposal later this springMarch 15, 2013—The Senate yesterday defeated an amendment to a government-wide fiscal 2013 spending bill that included language to establish a 340B drug discount program user fee. Sen. Tom Harkin's (D-Iowa) amendment to the Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 933), which needed 60 votes to pass, failed by a vote 54 to 45.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] His amendment would had … [Read more...]
HRSA Drafting All-Inclusive Regulation for 340B
Comprehensive rule would be for entire program, Pedley saysMarch 14, 2013—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is developing a comprehensive regulation for the entire 340B drug discount program that, among other provisions, would restate which patients may receive 340B-discounted medicines. Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) Director Cmdr. Krista Pedley disclosed the plan for an omnibus 340B rule during a March 12 … [Read more...]