340B prescription drug discount program Archives - Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

New Web Site Shows Maximum 340B Prices

Providers can now see the maximum prices for 340B-covered drugs on a new web site established by the federal Health Resources & Services Administration.

The web site, mandated by Congress after the U.S. Department of Health and Services’ Inspector General found that some providers are being overcharged, will enable 340B-eligible providers to identify the maximum price they can be charged for covered drugs. This, HRSA believes, will help providers avoid being overcharged in the future.

Most Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals participate in the 340B program and consider it a vital tool in helping them serve their low-income communities.

Learn more in the Becker’s Hospital Review article “HRSA launches 340B ceiling price website” and visit the new web site itself (registration required).

PA Safety Net Admin2019-04-03T06:00:54+00:00April 3rd, 2019|340b, Medicare, Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals|Comments Off

Congress Looks at 340B Program

Last week the House Energy and Commerce Committee took a look at the 340B prescription drug discount program, which requires pharmaceutical companies to sell discounted drugs for outpatient use to hospitals that care for especially large numbers of low-income patients.
The previous week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a proposed Medicare regulation calling for significant reductions in Medicare payments for such drugs.
The hearing touched on the CMS proposal to reduce Medicare payments for 340B drugs, the high prices of prescription drugs, the 340B program’s growth over the years, the possibility that the program is being abused by hospitals and clinics, and more.

The 340B program is an essential tool in the efforts of Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals to help the many low-income residents of the communities they serve.

Learn more about the hearing and the issues raised during it this Kaiser Health News report.

PA Safety Net Admin2017-07-25T06:00:27+00:00July 25th, 2017|Medicare, Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Group Organizes Advocacy in Support of 340B Program

Under pressure from federal regulators and MedPAC, the advocacy group 340B Health is attempting to rally hospital groups behind the 340B prescription drug discount program that requires pharmaceutical companies to provide discounts to qualified hospitals for drugs dispensed on an outpatient basis to Medicaid patients.
Last year the Health Resources and Services Administration, which runs the program, issued proposed regulations that would change how the program operates and is governed. Recently, MedPAC proposed reducing the size of the discount hospitals receive for the drugs, with the savings to be redirected to fund additional Medicare disproportionate share (Medicare DSH) payments for selected hospitals.
More than 2100 organizations participate in the 340B program, including most Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals.
For a closer look at the 340B program, the changes that have been proposed, and what hospitals are attempting to do about it, see this report from CQ Roll Call presented by the Commonwealth Fund.

PA Safety Net Admin2016-03-31T06:00:37+00:00March 31st, 2016|Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals|Comments Off

DSH/340B Hospitals Have Lower Medicare Drug Costs

Medicare disproportionate share (Medicare DSH) hospitals that qualify for the federal 340B prescription drug discount program have lower Medicare Part B drug costs than other Medicare providers.
So concludes a new study performed for 340B Health, an association that represents more 1100 public and non-profit hospitals and health systems that participate in the 340B drug pricing program.
According to the organization 340B Health,

Medicare pays disproportionate share hospitals in the 340B drug discount program on average 13 percent less for separately payable drugs reimbursed through Medicare Part B. This is in comparison to what it pays other hospitals and physician practices in the Part B market. The study also shows that 340B DSH hospitals are treating more vulnerable patients than other providers in terms of race, age, disability, and dual eligibility.

The study also found that 340B-eligible hospitals are

Nearly four times as likely as non-340B providers to treat patients with end-stage renal disease
More than twice as likely to treat patients dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
More than twice as likely to treat patients who are disabled
More than twice as likely to treat Black, Hispanic, and North American Native patients

All of Pennsylvania’s safety-net hospitals are Medicare DSH hospitals and many participate in the 340B prescription drug pricing program as well.
For a closer look at the study and its findings, go here to see a 340B Health news release on the study and go here to see the study Analysis of Separately Billable Part B Drug Use Among 340B DSH Hospitals and Non-340B Providers.

PA Safety Net Admin2016-02-19T06:00:39+00:00February 19th, 2016|Medicare, Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals|Comments Off

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