January 19, 2012—The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) has begun reminding hospitals enrolled in the 340B program that this spring they will be required for the first time to recertify that they are eligible to buy 340B-discounted drugs. Just over 21 percent of sites enrolled in 340B belong to a hospital, ranking them third behind consolidated health centers (27 percent) and … [Read more...]
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs Growing More Reliant on 340B and Voluntary Rebates
Dependence on 340B and supplemental rebates rises as government share of aid wanes.January 13, 2012—State AIDS drug assistance programs (ADAPs) are relying more than ever on the 340B program and voluntary rebates from manufacturers as direct government funding has dried up, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) says in a new report. ADAPs, which provide HIV treatments to low-income individuals with little or no prescription … [Read more...]
Reform-Driven 340B Expansion Has Slowed Considerably
Only 66 sites were added this quarter, about half the number in Q4 2011.January 11, 2012—Hospital site enrollment in 340B through the drug discount program's expansion under health care reform has fallen off significantly, according to new figures from the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA). According to OPA, only 66 rural and children's hospital sites were added to 340B on Jan. 1, the beginning of the first quarter of 2012. That was the … [Read more...]
N.Y. 340B Providers Concerned About Rule on Billing Claims to Medicaid Managed Care
"Impossible" requirement will force many to forgo drug discounts, they say.January 11, 2012—New York State's recent directive to pharmacies to flag all 340B claims billed to Medicaid managed care plans at the time the claims are filed is impossible to carry out and will prevent many pharmacies from accessing 340B drug discounts, state and national groups representing 340B providers have told state officials. In recent testimony before the state … [Read more...]
New Congressional Report Sites Manufacturing Problems as Primary Factor in Drug Shortages
Watchdog Agency Does Not Focus On Prices.December 23, 2011—Last week’s Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on drug shortages gave more insight to the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on steps the government can take to alleviate drug shortage situations.The report was requested by three members of the HELP Committee, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and … [Read more...]
Hospitals Urge Sanofi to Reinstate Patient Assistance Program
Free Clinics also Express Concern.December 23, 2011—An organization of over 800 non-profit and public hospitals that participate in the 340B program has written to drug manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis to express concern over the discontinuation of its institutional patient assistance program as well as the termination of its free drug program for the anti-coagulant Lovenox. In the letter, Safety Net Hospitals … [Read more...]
Prices Aren’t Causing Drug Shortages, Experts Tell Senate Panel
Solution lies in strengthening FDA's authority, witnesses agree.December 16, 2011—Witnesses testifying at a Senate committee hearing yesterday—including the head of the trade association for generic pharmaceutical manufacturers—overwhelmingly concurred that government drug pricing programs such as 340B are not the reason why so many generic injectable drugs are in short supply. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) … [Read more...]