July 28, 2011—Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. House late yesterday to expand 340B drug discounts to the inpatient setting and lift the restriction on rural and free-standing cancer hospitals' access to 340B pricing on orphan drugs. The 340B Improvement Act of 2011 (H.R. 2674), sponsored by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Jo Ann … [Read more...]
340B Hospitals Say They Can Comply with Orphan Drug Exclusion Rule
Monitor will report soon on others stakeholders' comments on proposed regulation.Editors' note: The federal government has begun releasing public comments on an important proposed regulation to implement health care reform's limit on rural and free-standing cancer hospitals' access to 340B pricing on orphan drugs. This is the first in a series of articles on 340B stakeholders' reactions to the proposed rule. Check back with the Monitor in the coming days … [Read more...]
340B Patient Definition Guidance Is Back Under Review
Unclear if it will be published this year, Pedley says.July 19, 2011—The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) proposed redefinition of the term "patient" for purposes of 340B discounts is "still under review" and could remain so for quite some time, Office of Pharmacy Affairs Director Krista Pedley announced last week during the 340B Coalition annual conference in Washington. Noting that she is … [Read more...]
OIG: States Neglecting Medicaid Rebates on Non-340B Drugs
Says CMS should help them identify "carved out" claims on physician-administered drugs.July 8, 2011—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should take action against states that are not collecting Medicaid rebates on physician-administered drugs bought outside of the 340B program, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) recommends in a new report. As a result, some hospitals may see greater activity by … [Read more...]
CMS Issues Medicare Hospital Outpatient Payment Proposal for 2012
Payment rate for separately payable drugs & biologicals set at ASP plus 4%.July 8, 2011—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed to budget $41.9 billion for Medicare reimbursement to hospital outpatient facilities in 2012, an increase of 1.5 percent above this year's level. At the same time, the payment rate for separately payable drugs and biologicals would decrease by 1 percent. In a proposed rule for the Hospital … [Read more...]
New Report Illustrates 340B’s Value to Hospitals and their Patients
Health centers also release findings about program's importance.June 29, 2011—The 340B drug discount program enables participating hospitals to provide pharmaceutical care to the nation’s most vulnerable patient populations and is critical to their continued operations, according to a new report on how hospitals use the program. The study was written by Madeline Carpinelli Wallack and Suzanne Bailey Herzog, both former analysts at the U.S. … [Read more...]
Congressional Democrats Seek Rebates on Part D Drugs
Requirement might create a 340B duplicate discount challenge.June 24, 2011—Leading Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate have introduced legislation to require drug manufactures to give Medicare Part D plans rebates on prescription drug for those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, saying the change would save the government more than $100 billion over 10 years. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) is … [Read more...]