It’s worth remembering that Congress created the 340B program more than 20 years ago to require highly profitable drug manufacturers to provide safety-net hospitals and clinics with discounted pricing on outpatient medications. In turn, the hospitals and clinics pass on a price break to low-income patients and other vulnerable populations. Congress also intended for these … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2013
Alliance for Integrity Members Required to Return Millions to Taxpayers
It doesn't pass the smell test when your critics demanding integrity have once again coughed up millions to settle a massive Medicaid billing fraud suit. Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) members Eli Lilly and Baxter Healthcare have together returned $2.9 million to the state of Louisiana for allegedly overcharging the state’s Medicaid program. The final … [Read more...]
NYC 340B Hospitals Brace for ACA Charity-Care Cuts
The 340B drug discount program becomes more essential by the minute as safety-net hospitals face steep shortfalls in federal assistance under the Affordable Care Act. The Wall Street Journal reports today (subscription required) about how many of New York City's "financially strapped" 340B hospitals "are scrambling to sign up people for health coverage through New York state's … [Read more...]
TogetherRx Access Closes Doors on 2M customers
TogetherRx Access, a drug discount card program sponsored by drug companies, is being discontinued as of Feb. 28, 2014. The reason? Big Pharma says participants will get a better deal on prescriptions by getting insured through the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid. “We have determined that individuals and families who need help obtaining their prescription medicines may be … [Read more...]
Congress Passes Compounding Pharmacy Oversight Bill
Utilization soared during recent drug shortagesNovember 20, 2013— The U.S. Senate has passed legislation clarifying Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight of compounding pharmacies, clearing it for President Obama's signature. The House passed the bill in July. … [Read more...]
340B Recertification Postponed for STD and TB Clinics and Ryan White Grantees
Annual affirmation of eligibility now scheduled for first quarter 2014November 19, 2013—The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) has delayed the start of 340B recertification for sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics, tuberculosis (TB) clinics, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS program grantees until the first quarter of 2014. Recertification was scheduled to begin for them yesterday. … [Read more...]
Big Pharma Profiteering on Orphan Drugs (Part 3)
The Seattle Times has published the next installment of its investigation of drug industry profiteering from orphan drugs. It's entitled How a Drug for a Few Patients Was Turned Into $81 Million in Sales. The story describes how Cell Therapeutics Inc. systematically spread the word among physicians (sometimes with the assistance of patient advocacy groups) about potential … [Read more...]