Further Cuts to 340B Would Be ‘Devastating’

As legislators continued to debate the future of the 340B drug discount program on Wednesday, leaders at several major health systems in both urban and rural settings raised concerns over the serious risks they face if those savings sustain significant cuts. Already, those reductions have forced West Virginia University Medicine—which serves a large, rural population—to “regroup” and…

Senators Focus on Hospital Drug Discount Program; Safety-net Hospitals Say 340B Program Fills a Crucial Need

The 340B discount program for prescription drugs used by safety-net hospitals needs better government oversight, several watchdog agency officials said at a Senate hearing. Although the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which oversees the program, has taken some important steps to improve oversight, “a number of important issues remain,” said Debra Draper, PhD, director…

Federal Watchdogs Urge More Oversight of Drug Discount Program

Officials from two federal watchdogs told a Senate committee Tuesday that a drug discount program for hospitals needs additional transparency and oversight to effectively monitor participants. The so-called 340B program, which allows safety net hospitals access to discounted drugs for providing uncompensated care, has become a flashpoint between drug manufacturers that claim providers drive up prices by…