Drug manufacturer Merck is paying refunds for overcharges on 340B drugs purchased during the first two quarters of 2020.
Merck recently asked the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to post notices about its 340B ceiling price recalculations on the HRSA website. HRSA posted the first, covering Q1 2020 and dated Feb. 28, late last week. It published the second, covering Q2 2020 and dated May 26, this week.
The first set of refunds are on five NDCs and includes Merck’s injectable antibiotic Cubicin to treat skin infections including staphylococcus, blood thinner Integrilin, used to prevent heart attacks, intravesical treatment Tice, indicated for bladder cancer, and insomnia medication Belsomra. The second set covers two NDCs for Cubicin and one for Tice.
Merck said in both notices it would contact directly or through a third party covered entities owed an aggregated refund across applicable NDCs of greater than $10 with information on how the refund will be processed. The HRSA posting serves as notice to those covered entities owed aggregated refunds of $10 or less, the company said.
Merck provided an email address for covered entities that are not contacted but believe they are owed refunds on the applicable NDCs, or that want additional information. Merck announced three rounds of refunds last year for overcharges from 2019.
SK Life Science refunds
Also this week, HRSA posted a notice from SK Life Science, Inc. about refunds for overcharges during varying sales periods between Q3 2021 and Q2 2022 on eight NDCs for its epilepsy medication Xcopri. The company said it recalculated its 340B ceiling prices after “a minor restatement of government pricing values.”
“SKLSI has identified all covered entities that may be owed a refund for purchases during this timeframe and is in the process of directly contacting any covered entity owed a refund greater than $50.00 by U.S. mail,” the notice said. The company said it “is also committed to issuing a refund to any covered entity that was overcharged” but not contacted directly by mail, including those owed a refund of less than $50.00. The notice includes an email address for inquiries.
