With President-elect Donald Trump’s (R) big victory and the GOP takeover of the U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s elections, we are likely to see increased scrutiny over and additional efforts to place restrictions on the 340B program. … [Read more...]
Much-Needed Wins for 340B Providers but Challenges Could Be Lurking
October 30, 2024 by
After a long period in which many 340B providers felt helpless, the last month has brought two major wins. … [Read more...]
CMS Should Heed the Advice of 340B Community on Medicare Negotiations
September 25, 2024 by
The Biden administration deserves credit for playing a key role in passing the first law in history to allow the government to negotiate lower drug prices for America’s 61 million Medicare beneficiaries. … [Read more...]
Turning 340B Into a Rebate Program a Non-Starter
August 28, 2024 by
If things were not difficult enough already for 340B providers, hospitals woke up on Friday morning to an announcement that one of the world’s biggest drug manufacturers was moving forward with a plan to convert the 340B program to a rebate … [Read more...]
Three Key Observations from Efforts to Restore 340B Discounts in the States
July 30, 2024 by
After six months of heated battles in the states to restore access to 340B drug discounts in the contract pharmacy setting, it’s a good time to reflect on providers’ progress and setbacks. … [Read more...]
340B and The Likely Path Forward
June 21, 2024 by
Despite its importance, the 340B drug discount program rarely ever goes under the Congressional spotlight. In fact, until the June 4th House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing, there had not been a … [Read more...]
Momentum Continues in States on Contract Pharmacy Access
May 31, 2024 by
In last month’s column, I wrote about a reprehensible campaign by 340B opponents to tie this critically important drug discount program to the contentious issue of immigration. A dark money campaign started to pour money into red states to try to … [Read more...]
Despite 340B Opponents’ Unprecedented Tactics, Many States Progress on Contract Pharmacy Protection Legislation
April 23, 2024 by
After over 30 years of working in Washington, D.C., I have become accustomed to the expression “politics ain’t beanbag.” The phrase, as the Christian Science Monitor explains, means “life is rough; get over it” to someone who receives bruising … [Read more...]
Key Takeaways from the SUSTAIN 340B Act and Things to Consider When Weighing In (Part 2)
March 14, 2024 by
(Part Two of a Two-Part Analysis) In February, the U.S. Senate bipartisan “Group of Six” released an eagerly anticipated discussion draft bill and a bill summary/request for more information on the most highly debated issues in the 340B program. The … [Read more...]
Key Takeaways from Senate Group of Six Draft 340B Bill (Part 1)
February 26, 2024 by
(Part One of a Two-Part Analysis) After reviewing comments from over 250 stakeholders, meeting with various interest groups and holding regular staff meetings, the U.S. Senate bipartisan “Group of Six” have released a highly … [Read more...]