Biden Scrapping Trump Plan To Shift 340B Discounts on Insulin, Epi-Pens
The policy would have threatened to withhold grant funds from community health centers if they charged low-income patients more than what they paid for the life-saving injections. Other news is on the increasing price of Medicare drugs, incentives at skilled nursing facilities, Florida's Medicaid budget and a program in Connecticut that will give "baby bonds" to new parents on Medicaid.
Stat:
Biden Admin Moves To Axe Trump 340B Rule Targeting Community Clinics
The Biden administration on Tuesday moved to axe a Trump-era policy that would have targeted federal drug discounts for clinics serving low-income people. While several other controversial Trump drug pricing policies on importation, international reference pricing, and drug rebates remain in limbo, this is the second time that HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has sided with providers at the expense of drug makers on contentious policy related to the federal 340B drug discount program. (Cohrs, 6/15)
Modern Healthcare:
Trump Rule On Community Health Center Insulin, Epi-Pen Discounts May End
The Biden administration wants to eliminate a rule targeting community health clinics in the 340B program. The rule, which was issued by the Trump administration but never took effect, would have required community health centers pass the 340B discounts they get for insulin and Epi-Pens to patients. The Biden administration argued Tuesday the rule would put "undue administrative costs and burdens" on health centers. (Hellmann, 6/15)
Also —
Axios:
MedPAC Says Higher Prices Drove Up Medicare Drug Spending
The amount Medicare spent on drugs that are dispensed at pharmacies increased 26% from 2013 through 2018, members of the Medicare Advisory Payment Commission wrote in their new annual report. MedPAC members put the spotlight on pharmaceutical companies, attributing "nearly all of the growth ... to higher prices rather than an increase in the number of prescriptions filled by beneficiaries." (Herman, 6/16)
Modern Healthcare:
MedPAC Wants To End Skilled Nursing Facility Incentive Program
A panel advising Congress on Medicare policy recommended Tuesday eliminating and replacing the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, arguing it is fundamentally flawed. Congress passed the VBP program in 2014 to improve quality in skilled nursing facilities, but the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission says the program's single measure of performance — hospital readmissions — doesn't fully capture healthcare quality or address variations between facilities in patient populations. Under the program, MedPAC found that SNFs treating higher shares of dual-eligible beneficiaries or facilities with more medically complex patients were more likely to be penalized under the program. (Hellmann, 6/15)
Health News Florida:
Florida Asks For More Time On Potential Medicaid Boost
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is asking the federal government for additional time “to consider the potential impacts” of drawing down hundreds of millions of dollars in additional federal Medicaid money for home- and community-based services. In an email to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Karen Williams of the state Medicaid office said Florida wants a 30-day extension, which would give the state until July 12 to submit a plan to the federal government. (Sexton, 6/15)
The Washington Post:
A Groundbreaking Connecticut Law Would Give A $3,200 Bond To Every Child Born Into Poverty
Connecticut is set to become the first state in the nation to grant children of low-income parents “baby bonds” — individual trusts paid for by the state, which children can access once they turn 18. Under the law, any infant born to parents who rely on Medicaid insurance will receive $3,200 in a special savings account. By the time they are able to access the fund, it will be worth nearly $11,000, according to the Hartford Courant. (Branigin, 6/15)
