February 1, 2013—Six Republican members of Congress asked the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) late yesterday for details about its audits and recertification of 340B covered entities. In a Jan. 31 letter, the lawmakers—Sens. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) and Michael Enzi (Wyo.) and Reps. Joe Pitts (Pa.) and Bill … [Read more...]
340B Providers Losing an Ally in Senator Harkin
Program champion will retire in 2014January 30, 2013—Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who has championed health care safety-net issues as the chairman of two important Senate committees, has decided not to seek reelection in 2014. Senator Harkin, 73, announced his decision on Jan. 26, explaining that after serving 40 years in Congress in both the House and Senate, "I just feel it's someone else's … [Read more...]
340B Health Center Recertification Will Begin on Feb. 5
Failure to recertify will lead to loss of discounts, group reminds its membersJanuary 18, 2013—Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) will have three weeks beginning Feb. 5 to recertify their eligibility for 340B drug discounts, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is reminding its members. NACH posted the alert on its blog on Jan. 18.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) … [Read more...]
What’s in Store for 340B in 2013?
Look for legislative inquiry to continue and for a major increase in auditsJanuary 9, 2013—Health care providers in the federal 340B drug discount program came under intense scrutiny in 2012 and the focus is likely to remain sharp in the year ahead. In the coming months, stakeholders can expect to see bills to reform 340B introduced by both champions and detractors of the program in Congress.[ms-protect-content id="2799"] They also can expect … [Read more...]
Community Health and Hemophilia Centers Prepare for 340B Recertification
OPA holds webinars this week in advance of documentation process next monthJanuary 8, 2013—The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) is holding a Jan. 10 webinar for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and health center "look-alikes" about their need to recertify their eligibility for 340B drug discounts next month. The Affordable Care Act required OPA to recertify the eligibility of all 340B covered entities annually.[ms-protect-content … [Read more...]
Latest Enrollment Window for 340B Closes on Jan. 15
Providers that miss deadline will have to wait until April 1-15 for enrollment beginning July 1January 2, 2013—Safety-net health care providers that want to add themselves or their satellite facilities to the 340B drug discount program or that want to establish 340B contract pharmacy arrangements starting in April have until Jan. 15 to submit their online applications. Last July, the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) announced a new enrollment policy for the 340B … [Read more...]
Court Ruling May Affect Some Hospitals’ 340B Eligibility
Decision is the latest twist in dispute over how to calculate disproportionate share percentageDecember 19, 2012—A recent ruling in a prolonged legal battle over how to count Medicare Part C managed care patient days toward safety-net hospitals' disproportionate share (DSH) percentages could affect some hospitals’ participation in the 340B drug discount program. In its Nov. 15 decision in Allina Health Services v. Sebelius, the U.S. District Court for the District of … [Read more...]