Although Congress was able to pass a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package last week, the nearly $1.8 trillion Build Back Better bill remains bogged down by infighting among Democrats.
…Ron Shinkman
Democratic lawmakers have come to an agreement for placing a limited drug price negotiation plan for the Medicare program into the Build Back Better bill, but how it will impact the 340B program remains to be seen.
Sectyr, an established provider of compliance platforms for 340B covered entities, has acquired LicenseTrak, a system for managing license, contract, training, and other business tasks, the companies announced last week.
…California’s Medicaid (Medi-Cal) program remains on track to move its pharmacy benefit from managed care to fee-for-service early next year, a change that would deprive federally qualified health centers and other safety net health care providers of hundreds of millions
…If Congress changes hands during next year’s mid-term elections, we can expect the 340B program to be back under the spotlight with a renewed effort to place significant restrictions on the program, 340B Report Publisher and CEO Ted Slafsky writes
…The ban on 340B discounts on orphan drugs for rural and free-standing cancer hospitals may give drug companies a powerful incentive “to seek orphan designation for drugs approved to treat common diseases or conditions,” the U.S. Health and Human Services
…Hundreds of family planning clinics that lost their Title X federal grants and 340B eligibility because they opposed a Trump-era rule barring them from providing abortion referrals might return to Title X and 340B soon.
…340B covered entities are exploring buying health insurance for patients at risk of contracting HIV in response to a huge reimbursement cut due to start in January for Gilead pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications.
…Half of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has asked Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to end the nearly 30% cut in Medicare Part B drug payments to 340B hospitals.
…A new study in Health Affairs could add to the squeeze on 340B hospitals’ margins on infused cancer drugs.
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