Articles by : Ted Slafsky, Publisher & CEO

GOP-aligned Think Tank Alleges that 340B Expansions Contributed to Drug Spending Spurts

May 17, 2022 Views

graph of per capita spending on retail prescription drugs

The American Action Forum says "it is worthwhile to consider whether" there is a link between the implementation of 340B policies and upswings in retail drug spending. A drug policy experts who found that that inflation penalties in the 340B program were associated with lower annual drug price increases says AAF's analysis "is specious at best."

An American Action Forum (AAF) data analysis that connects increases in consumer drug spending with the introduction of 340B drug discount and Medicaid drug rebate program policies “is spurious at best,” says an expert on prescription drug costs whose research

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340B Providers Lose their Biggest GOP Ally in U.S. House

May 12, 2022 Views

U.S. Rep. David McKinley (R-WA) gestures during hearing

U.S. Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) lost his GOP primary election this week. It's a huge blow for 340B entities that have relied on his help in Congress for years.

In a major blow to the 340B provider community, U.S. Rep. David McKinley, the leading voice for the 340B program in the House Republican caucus, was defeated Tuesday in the West Virginia Republican primary. McKinley will remain in office until

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University White Paper on 340B Says Pharma and Hospitals Will Keep Testing 340B’s Bounds Until Congress Acts

October 19, 2021 Views

Pharma and hospitals will keep testing the bounds of the 340B program until Congress steps in, a University of Southern California (USC) health policy research fellow predicts in a new white paper.

Drug manufacturers and hospitals “will likely continue to test the bounds” of the 340B program until Congress passes legislation addressing multiple concerns about it, a University of Southern California (USC) health policy research fellow says in a new white paper.

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News Alert: New Senate Bill Would Let HRSA Audit 340B Providers to See How They Use 340B Net Income

September 24, 2021 Views

Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) has introduced legislation to let the government audit 340B entities to determine how they use net income from 340B savings.

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced legislation last night to let the federal government audit 340B covered entities to determine how they use net income from drugs bought under the 340B program.

Braun filed the bill late yesterday. According

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U.S. Supreme Court Schedules Oral Arguments on 340B Reimbursement Case

September 21, 2021 Views

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case over Medicare-related 340B cuts to hospitals surprised many observers. Oral arguments are scheduled for Nov. 30, with a decision not likely until the spring.

The U.S. Supreme Court has announced the cases it will take up this fall and 340B will be on the plate. The court recently posted its hearings schedule for the months of October through December and will hear oral

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House GOP Conference Chair Stefanik Signs on to 340B Anti-Pickpocketing Bill

September 21, 2021 Views

House Republican conference chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is the most high profile sponsor of date for the bipartisan 340B Protect Act.

U.S. House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), the third highest-ranking House Republican, has issued a news release and tweeted about signing on as a sponsor of bipartisan legislation prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and other third-party payers from paying

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Biden Picks Academic with Hospital Connections to Run HHS Policy Shop

September 21, 2021 Views

Robert Otto Valdez has been selected by President Biden for a key HHS policy position that impacts the 340B program.

President Biden announced last week that he plans to nominate public health expert Robert Otto Valdez to serve as U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).

ASPE is the principal adviser to HHS on

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News Alert: Key House Committee Excludes “Spread Pricing” Language that 340B Entities Feared from Drug Pricing Legislation

September 10, 2021 Views

The House Energy & Commerce Committee excluded spread-pricing language that 340B entities feared from forthcoming drug pricing legislation.

340B covered entities are breathing easier today upon learning that U.S. House Democrats excluded much-feared Medicaid managed care “spread pricing” language from forthcoming drug pricing legislation.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee late yesterday released the text of the 16

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HRSA Veteran Herzog to Oversee 340B Program as Agency Begins Search for New OPA Director

August 31, 2021 Views

Michelle Herzog, the new acting director of HRSA's 340B drug pricing program, speaks at the 2015 340B Coalition summer conference.

Michelle Herzog, long-time second-in-command at the U.S Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA), has taken charge as OPA director on an acting basis.

A HRSA spokesperson confirmed yesterday morning that Herzog will oversee OPA temporarily now

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Young Firebrand Lawmaker Gets into Shouting Match with 340B Champion

August 3, 2021 Views

U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C., left) and the staff of Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va., right) allegedly got into "a back-and-forth" last week over Cawthorn's listing as a co-sponsor of 340B legislation that McKinley filed with Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.).

News organization Politico reports that U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) “got into a back-and-forth with” the staff of Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) last week Thursday, July 29, over Cawthorn’s listing as a co-sponsor of legislation to protect 340B covered

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