Articles by : Tom Mirga, Editor at Large

With Screws Tightening on 340B Contract Pharmacy, More Health Centers Plan to Open their Own

May 19, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large Views

a pharmacist scanning a barcode on a pill bottle

One-third of health center leaders whose centers do not have an on-site pharmacy say they plan to open one in the next three years, a survey by 340B pharmacy management company Maxor 340B found.

One-third (33%) of community health center (CHC) senior executives whose organizations do not currently have an on-site pharmacy plan to open one in the next three years, a new survey shows.

340B pharmacy management company Maxor 340B released the survey

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State Bill That Would Have Stopped Drug Industry from Imposing 340B Contract Pharmacy Restrictions Dies

May 19, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large Views

A 340B anti-discrimination bill targeting pharmacy benefit managers and drug manufacturers failed to advance in Connecticut.

Legislation in Connecticut that would have kept drug manufacturers from imposing “any preconditions, limitations, delays or other barriers” to 340B drug purchases “that are not required” by the 340B statute, died when this year’s legislative session ended on May 4.

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Colorado Lawmakers Pass 340B Anti-discrimination Bill

May 19, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large Views

Colorado lawmakers voted to stop health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and other third-party payers from discriminating against 340B covered entities and their contract pharmacies.

The Colorado General Assembly has voted to stop health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and other third-party payers from discriminating against 340B covered entities and their contract pharmacies.

Gov. Jared Polis (D) is expected to sign the bill, HB22-1122. He

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U.S. Uninsured Rate Dipped Slightly in 2021 to 9.2% but Rates for Hispanics and Blacks Remain High

May 19, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large Views

bar chart showing percentage of U.S. population uninsured and insured by age group

The U.S. uninsured rate fell slightly in 2021 to 9.2%, down from 9.7% in 2020, new data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) show.

The U.S. uninsured rate fell slightly in 2021 to 9.2% (about 30 million people), down from 9.7% (about 31.6 million people) in 2020, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reports.

NCHS released this and related health insurance coverage findings earlier

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25 States Say Drug Companies’ 340B Contract Pharmacy Actions Are Illegal and Harm Public Health

May 17, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large Views

excerpt of amicus brief for 340B drug pricing program

An excerpt from one of the two friend of the court briefs that 25 states filed in pivotal 340B contract pharmacy litigation in federal appeals courts.

Yesterday, 340B Report broke the news that a group of 25 states from blue bastions such as Connecticut and Maryland to red states such as Arkansas and Mississippi weighed in favor of the federal government’s effort to punish drug manufacturer

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

May 17, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large 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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HRSA Announces 340B Enrollment Flexibilities in Fire-Ravished New Mexico

May 17, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large Views

flames and smoke over mountains in New Mexico

HRSA has announced 340B program enrollment flexibilities in New Mexico, which is coping with the biggest wildfire in state history.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) yesterday announced 340B program enrollment flexibilities in New Mexico due to the declaration of a public health emergency in the state.

Wildfires in northern New Mexico that began in early April have

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25 States File Joint Briefs Backing HHS and HRSA in 340B Contract Pharmacy Cases

May 16, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large Views

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (D) led the coalition of states backing the federal government in 340B contract pharmacy cases before federal appeals courts.

Twenty-five states are backing the federal government in litigation before two federal appeals courts over drug manufacturers’ denials of 340B pricing when covered entities use contract pharmacies.

A bipartisan group of state attorneys general filed friend of the court briefs this

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Mallinckrodt Is the Third Drug Company This Month to Announce Refunds for 340B Overcharges

May 12, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large Views

Mallinckrodt's SpecGx subsidiary is providing refunds for 340B overcharges on 22 NDCs for purchases from Q3 2019 through Q2 2020.

Drug manufacturer Mallinckrodt’s SpecGx generic pharmaceutical subsidiary is providing refunds for 340B overcharges on 22 NDCs for purchases from Q3 2019 through Q2 2020.

This is the third time this month that a drug manufacturer has announced 340B refunds for

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

May 12, 2022 Tom Mirga Editor at Large 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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