I am very excited to be writing my inaugural column for Verity Solutions’ blog. I have a long-time friendship with Verity’s CEO George Puckett that spans close to three decades and have always admired and counted on the Verity team for their … [Read more...]
News & Commentary
After a Lull in Action, Expect 340B to Be Under the Microscope in the Next Congress
Political pundits and others in Washington, D.C. should be thankful that betting on U.S. elections is illegal. Otherwise, there would have been a lot of money lost on the Congressional midterm races where the expected “red wave” never materialized. … [Read more...]
The 20 Key Moments in the 340B Program’s 30-Year History
As we approach the 340B drug discount program's 30th anniversary on November 4, it is a good time to reflect on the key moments that have had the greatest impact on this very important program. I have been immersed in the program since 1996, but … [Read more...]
Recent Developments Underscore Why 340B Providers Should Quickly Turn to Congress to Break Contract Pharmacy Impasse
October will be critical in the ongoing dispute over the scope of the 340B contract pharmacy program. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has scheduled oral arguments on Oct. 24 in Novartis and United Therapeutics’ … [Read more...]
Key Takeaways from New Medicare Law and Its Implications for 340B Stakeholders
Significant health care policy change occurs very infrequently in Washington, D.C. This is particularly the case with drug pricing, where advocates have been fighting for more than 30 years over letting Medicare negotiate pharmaceutical prices. … [Read more...]
What to Expect in the November Elections and Implications for the 340B Program
With a little over three months left until the crucial midterm elections, it is an excellent time to look into what to expect in November. The party in control of Congress in 2023 and 2024 will have a significant impact not only on big picture … [Read more...]
Five Key Takeaways from Supreme Court Decision on Payments to 340B Hospitals
For the second time in a little over a decade, the 340B program took center stage June 15 before the U.S. Supreme Court. For a refresher course, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ruled in 2011 in a unanimous opinion (Astra USA v. Santa Clara County) … [Read more...]
Growing Momentum at State and Federal Level for 340B Protections
With the nation’s capital remaining largely gridlocked, a growing number of safety net providers have turned to the states to address challenges to the 340B program. As we get close to the end of most state legislatures’ sessions, it is a good time … [Read more...]
A 340B Pricing Success Story and Recommendations for Improvement
In April 2019, after a long-fought effort, including hospital litigation against the government, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) began posting 340B ceiling prices on its website and finalized regulations that would impose … [Read more...]
17 Different Drug Manufacturer Policies Imposed on the 340B Program and Counting
In the past 18 months, the 340B drug contract pharmacy program has seemingly fractured into 17 programs, one governed by the federal government and 16 others with their own standards determined by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Frustrated by program … [Read more...]