Articles by : Tom Mirga, Editor at Large

The New Rules of 340B Contract Pharmacy—a Recap of 340B Report’s First-Ever Webinar

May 24, 2022 Tom Mirga, Editor at Large Views

340B Report's May 18 webinar panelists included (clockwise from top left) Aaron Vandervelde, Jason Atlas, Ashley Mains Espinosa, Tom Mirga, Ted Slafsky, and Sue Veer.

340B Report held a webinar for its subscribers last week on Second Sight Solutions’ 340B ESP platform that administers drug manufacturers’ conditions on 340B pricing when covered entities use contract pharmacies. More than 800 subscribers registered to attend—a clear sign

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In What Would Be the Only Second State to Enact Such Legislation, Calif. Senate Votes to Shield 340B Providers from Manufacturers and PBMs’ Actions

May 24, 2022 Tom Mirga, Editor at Large Views

The California Senate passed legislation to bar drug manufacturer conditions on covered entities’ 340B drug purchases and to bar pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) discrimination against 340B covered entities and their pharmacies.

The California Senate passed legislation yesterday to prohibit drug manufacturer conditions on covered entities’ 340B drug purchases and to prohibit pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) discrimination against 340B covered entities and their pharmacies.

The Senate voted 24-9 in favor of SB-939 and

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Tennessee Health System Strikes Back Against DOJ Claims It Paid for Referrals to Boost 340B Revenue

May 24, 2022 Tom Mirga, Editor at Large Views

Methodist University Hospital, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare building

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare disputes U.S. Justice Department claims that the health system's agreements under the system’s affiliation with a private oncology practice were “a fiction” perpetuated partially to let the system “realize profits from the 340B program.”

A Tennessee health system last week denied U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) allegations that agreements under the system’s seven-year affiliation with a private oncology practice were “a fiction” perpetuated partially to let the system “realize profits from the 340B program.”

Methodist

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Provider Groups File Appellate Briefs in Key 340B Contract Pharmacy Cases

May 19, 2022 Tom Mirga, Editor at Large Views

US court of appeals for the DC circuit courtroom interior

Groups representing health centers, HIV/AIDS clinics, and hospitals filed briefs in key 340B contract pharmacy cases in federal appeals courts in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

Groups representing health centers, HIV/AIDS clinics, and hospitals asked federal appeals courts in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., this week to hold that drug manufacturers must give covered entities 340B discounts on drugs when entities use contract pharmacies to fill prescriptions

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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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