Imagine if there was a way to resolve two of the most intractable challenges in the 340B program in one fell swoop: one that has a significant impact on the financial health of 340B providers, and another that affects the pharmaceutical industry’s … [Read more...]
News & Commentary
Four Burning Questions in Contract Pharmacy Standoff
June 24, 2021 by
As we get closer to the one-year mark since a group of drug manufacturers stopped offering 340B discounts or placed restrictions on these discounts in the contract pharmacy setting, several unanswered questions remain. Here are four burning ones: … [Read more...]
Promising Signs for 340B Providers in Contract Pharmacy Standoff
May 7, 2021 by
After a long period of treading water, recent developments in federal court bode well for 340B providers trying to restore access to 340B pricing in the contract pharmacy setting. A close review of recent government court filings also provides a … [Read more...]
Why 340B Covered Entities Need Swift Action on Contract Pharmacies
April 15, 2021 by
These days, it seems like we need the help of a professional juggler to keep up with the developments in the various legal cases surrounding the 340B drug discount program. 340B providers were first up to bat, filing three … [Read more...]
A New Administration = A New Era of 340B Program Guidance
March 5, 2021 by
Since its inception in 1992, the 340B program has largely been governed by federal guidance, rather than regulations. Until the Affordable Care Act (ACA), in fact, ; every aspect of the 340B program was interpreted through guidance. … [Read more...]
Despite Good Progress, Don’t Expect Immediate Resolution to Contract Pharmacy Battle
January 29, 2021 by
After a close look at the recent legal actions related to the contract pharmacy battle, I have concluded that it is unlikely we will see an immediate resolution to the … [Read more...]
340B Advocates Face an Important Decision at a Critical Juncture
December 19, 2020 by
“To be or not to be?” is probably the most famous question posed in English literature. For 340B stakeholders, the most pressing question for the coming year is “to amend or not amend 340B?” Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted a decade … [Read more...]
A 340B Advocacy Group Punching Above Its Weight
December 19, 2020 by
I have had the privilege of being on the frontlines protecting the 340B program since 1996, just a few years after the program was enacted into law. We have had our share of challenges over the years, including a close call in the mid-1990s when the … [Read more...]
How a U.S. Supreme Court decision underscores the need for government action on 340B crisis
September 24, 2020 by
Two months ago, I wrote about the importance of the November elections for the 340B program’s future. Perhaps sensing a less-friendly political environment in 2021, the drug industry has fired the first missiles in what could be a long battle. While … [Read more...]
Recent Actions Underscore the Need for a Renewed Focus on Protecting 340B
August 30, 2020 by
It is hard to believe that the 340B provider community was celebrating two important victories just a few months ago. In June, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced that it was eliminating a long-standing barrier that kept … [Read more...]