Senator Grassley Asks 2 Drug Companies About Denials of 340B Pricing

by admin | September 27, 2013 6:58 am

September 27, 2013—The Iowa Senator who has been looking into hospitals’ and a large retail pharmacy chain’s participation in the 340B drug discount program has sent letters to two drug manufacturers[1] asking why the companies are not providing discounts on particular products.[ms-protect-content id=”2799″]

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) sent the letters on Sept. 25 to CSL Behring, the maker of Kcentra, an antidote for blood-thinner poisoning; and to Pacira Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Exparel, used in surgical closings. He said he was acting on behalf of an Iowa hospital which he did not identify.

The Senator asked CSL Behring to answer the following questions by Oct. 9:

• Why did CSL Behring tell the Iowa hospital that it was not required to provide 340B pricing in light of information to the contrary from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)?
• To how many other 340B covered entities has CSL Behring failed to provide 340B pricing?
• Has CSL Behring reimbursed any 340B covered entities for its failure to provide 340B pricing? If not, explain why not and explain when the reimbursements will be processed.
• What steps has CSL Behring taken to ensure that its sales representatives do not misrepresent its 340B pricing obligations to customers?

Senator Grassley likewise asked Pacira to answer the following questions, also by Oct. 9:

• Why did a Pacira sales representative claim to the Iowa hospital that it was not required to provide 340B pricing in light of the information to the contrary from HRSA?
• To how many other qualified 340B covered entities has Pacira failed to provide 340B pricing?
• Has Pacira reimbursed any 340B covered entities for its failure to provide 340B pricing? If not, please explain why not and explain when the reimbursements will be processed.
• What has Pacira done to ensure that its sales representatives do not misrepresent its 340B pricing obligations to customers?

In late July, Senator Grassley sent a letter to Walgreens[2] requesting detailed information about its participation in the 340B program as a contract pharmacy, including its financial arrangements with covered entities.[/ms-protect-content]

Source URL: https://340bemployed.org/senator-grassley-asks-2-drug-companies-about-denials-of-340b-pricing/

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