March 2, 2011 – The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) announced major cutbacks in its technical assistance (TA) program yesterday.
OPA Director Krista Pedley warned last month that the cuts were coming, saying that they were being forced by the drug discount program’s expansion without a corresponding increase in funding.
“In order to maximize existing limited resources,” the office said on its Web site, “the level of TA will be different for each of the following categories: covered entities (eligible and enrolled) that are HRSA grantees; other covered entities (eligible and enrolled); other stakeholder groups.”
“OPA will continue to enroll all eligible covered entities into the 340B program and will conduct annual recertifications of participating covered entities as resources allow,” it said.
The office did not say what it would do if Congress and the White House provided it with more funding. President Obama is seeking $10.2 million for the drug discount program in fiscal 2012, about half of which would come from a new user fee on 340B drug purchases.
New Tiers of Assistance
Effective immediately, drug manufacturers, law firms and all other 340B stakeholders that are not covered entities can no longer access the Pharmacy Services and Support Center (PSSC) call center. They will have to rely instead on the OPA Web site and its frequently asked questions (FAQ) page and webinars.
Covered entities that do not receive grants from OPA’s parent, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), can continue to use the call center but only for general questions about basic eligibility and program requirements. According to a notice on the OPA Web site, this group includes disproportionate share hospitals, sexually transmitted disease and tuberculosis clinics, Title X family planning clinics, urban Indian programs, Native Hawaiian Healthcare program, and special programs of national significance.
OPA said that help for these entities “that requires a high level of effort, research and engagement will no longer be provided after March 1.” Instead, it will use “a peer-to-peer approach” to provide them with individualized assistance “as resources allow.”
Children’s hospitals, free-standing cancer hospitals, rural referral centers and sole community hospitals that became eligible for 340B under health care reform will continue to get the full range of PSSC services “while funds are available.” If funding runs out, they will get the same level of service as other non-HRSA grantees.
Covered entities that get HRSA grants will continue to be eligible for the full range of PSSC services “subject to the availability of funding.” These providers include federally qualified health centers and look-alikes, hemophilia treatment centers, Ryan White facilities, black lung clinic programs, rural disproportionate share hospitals, and critical access hospitals.
Focus on Web Site
Looking ahead, OPA said it will improve its Web site’s content, use webinars and develop “other tools” to meet covered entities’ needs. It also encouraged greater use of Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative for questions about patient safety and medication management.
The office did not say how long it expects its technical assistance budget to last. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) runs PSSC under a $16 million, five-year contract with HRSA that expires in October 2012.