Category: Sponsored Content

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Increasingly, participants in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are discovering and benefiting from the 340B drug discount program. Unlike the historic fee-for-service healthcare models, ACOs are rewarded for outcomes that are better aligned with value-based population health, including improved patient care outcomes, an enhanced patient experience, and more efficient, streamlined provider time where physicians spend more time with patients who are most acute, all while lowering overall costs.

By participating in the 340B program, eligible hospitals and clinics are better positioned to put patient care first. When combined with ACO participation, new drug savings and revenue are generated to further efforts to enhance patient care while lowering costs at a time when the field of healthcare is experiencing unprecedented stressors – both professionally and financially.

Safety-net providers have demonstrated success in accountable care through a collaborative ACO model. In a collaborative, independent providers work together to improve operational efficiencies and quality of care

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We are pleased to again bring you Visante’s Top 10 issues in pharmacy for 2023. For 2022, our Top 10 items (Pharmacy Org Structure, 340B Program, Vertical Integration & Marketplace Restrictions, Drug Prices & Supply Chain, Infusion Services, Drug Shortages, Pandemic, Economy, Election, Social Justice) all turned out to be very relevant and many of these items again made the list for 2023.

To say that 2022 was turbulent would be a significant understatement! With the pandemic, economy, election and social justice issues driving national concerns, including pharmacy, coupled with the more pharmacy-specific elements, it was an extremely challenging year for pharmacy and healthcare in general. However, despite the magnitude of the challenges, we observed pharmacy programs all over the country stepping up and meeting these challenges head-on. Pharmacy programs demonstrated innovation, creativity, commitment to purpose, and a tremendous work ethic in supporting their patients and their organizations and should be justifiably proud of their

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The 340B statute was written as a drug pricing program that outlines specifically what manufacturers are required to charge qualified covered entities for their drugs based on a defined formula. The intent of the 340B program is to help these safety net entities stretch their scarce resources to maintain and enhance services in underserved areas and reach more eligible patients.

Though the statute is silent on how much these entities should charge their patients for their drugs or the delivery mechanisms used to get pharmacy services to their patients, there is increasing scrutiny on these areas from manufacturers and other opponents of this vital program.

The Issues Surrounding 340B Pricing

Although it is not a requirement of the statute, many falsely point to 340B prices not being passed on directly to patients as a blatant misuse of the program. There are numerous reasons this was

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Cloudmed routinely analyzes aggregate data to identify 340B program trends and patterns that can provide useful client insights regarding referral prescriptions. Our 340B team observed two calendar years of data across more than 230 covered entity sites to understand which drugs, therapeutic classes, and medical specialties account for the largest savings realized through referral prescriptions within the contract pharmacy domain.

Top Level Findings

Hepatology And Hematology/Oncology Medications Account For Most Savings

In both CY 2020 and CY 2021, hepatology and hematology/oncology medications consistently account for more than 50% of the top ten medications realized within referral management.

Hepatology medications HARVONI, EPCLUSA, and SYPRINE – drugs used to treat hepatitis and liver disorders – were consistently ranked across both 2020 and 2021. The capture of neurology medications indicated for treating multiple sclerosis and

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Pop Quiz: Which of these statements are false?

1. The United States spends more on health care than any other developed nation. But when compared to 11 other high-income countries, the U.S. ranks last for access to care, health equity, and health outcomes. Case in point: Despite significant advances in HIV prevention and treatment in the last 40 years, profound, persistent disparities in access to this care have surfaced.
   
2. The U.S. health care system has particularly failed specific populations that routinely face barriers to care including stigma, provider access, and financial obstacles. For example, studies show that almost a sixth of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. report having experienced discrimination in a health care setting.
   
3. Community health centers (CHCs) bridge the health care gap for groups facing health disparities, serving over 30 million Americans. While 92% of CHCs report utilizing 340B drug discount program savings to increase care access for the underserved, the program is at