Drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk today announced that effective July 1 it will stop letting hospitals place bill to / ship to orders of 340B-purchased drugs to an unlimited number of contract pharmacies in exchange for related claims data.
It will, however, continue to make such shipments in exchange for claims data “to an unlimited number of [contract pharmacies] that are wholly owned and operated by a hospital.”
Non-hospital 340B covered entities remain exempt from all conditions.
Entities around noon Eastern today began receiving the new notice from Novo Nordisk by email. It said as of July 1:
- Novo Nordisk will allow a maximum of two CP designations (one retail and/or one specialty, as determined by Novo Nordisk) for all hospital CEs.
- Novo Nordisk will allow bill to/ship to orders to an unlimited number of CPs that are wholly owned and operated by a hospital CE where the hospital CE provides claims level data associated with 340B dispenses made by those wholly owned CPs.
- These conditions will apply whether the hospital CE has an in-house pharmacy, or does not.
Novo Nordisk’s last update to its 340B contract pharmacy policy took effect Jan. 1. It said:
- If a hospital CE did not have a wholly owned CP, Novo Nordisk would allow a maximum of two CP designations (one retail and/or one specialty, as determined by Novo Nordisk).
- If a hospital owned and operated a wholly owned CP, Novo Nordisk would allow the hospital CE to designate multiple wholly owned CP relationships.
- Novo Nordisk would also allow an unlimited number of CPs where the hospital CE provided claims level data associated with 340B dispenses made by those CPs.
In late January, a federal appeals court held that Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, and Sanofi’s “restrictions on delivery to contract pharmacies do not violate” the 340B statute. Two other appeals courts are considering the same issue and could rule at any time.
340B stakeholders says other manufacturers might announce new or updated 340B contract pharmacy policies today.
