Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In A 'Shot Across The Bow Of The Bad Guys,' Hospitals Decide To Try Making Their Own Drugs
The New York Times: Fed Up With Drug Companies, Hospitals Decide To Start Their Own
For years, hospital executives have expressed frustration when essential drugs like heart medicines have become scarce, or when prices have skyrocketed because investors manipulated the market. Now, some of the country’s largest hospital systems are taking an aggressive step to combat the problem: They plan to go into the drug business themselves, in a move that appears to be the first on this scale. “This is a shot across the bow of the bad guys,” said Dr. Marc Harrison, the chief executive of Intermountain Healthcare, the nonprofit Salt Lake City hospital group that is spearheading the effort. (Abelson and Thomas, 1/18)
Modern Healthcare: House To Consider Bills That Would Define 340B-Eligible Patients
The odds in Congress' big-money fight over 340B drug discounts are shifting against hospitals with a soon-to-be-introduced package of bills that would limit the patients qualifying for the discount and expand reporting requirements for how hospitals use the dollars. Rep. Chris Collins, New York Republican and ardent critic of the recent 340B expansion, spearheaded the legislation that is now getting split up into six or eight different bills all geared toward an overhaul of the 340B program, and supported by his party's leadership on the key House committee of jurisdiction. (Luthi, 1/17)
Modern Healthcare: Medicare Part D Misses $3.4B In Savings From Excluded Generic Coverage
The CMS and Medicare beneficiaries could have saved more than $3 billion over four years if the Medicare Part D program covered more generic prescriptions, a new study found. The study, published in JAMA on Tuesday, found a potential $3.4 billion in Medicare Part D savings between 2012 and 2015 if the CMS required generic substitutes for 62 brand-name drugs that weren't covered by the two largest pharmacy benefit managers, CVS or Express Scripts. (Kacik, 1/17)
CQ HealthBeat: House Panel OKs Bills On Drugs And Medical Volunteers
Bills related to over-the-counter drug approvals and manufacturers' communication on unapproved uses of drugs are headed to the full Energy and Commerce Committee after the panel’s Health Subcommittee on Wednesday advanced the measures. The committee also approved another bill (HR 1876) in the markup that would shield health care professionals from liability if they caused harm while volunteering during a disaster response. The bill and a substitute that would limit the liability protections to activities that the providers are licensed to practice were adopted by voice vote. However, Democrats want adjustments before the full committee considers the bill. Rep. Gene Green of Texas, the subcommittee's top Democrat, expressed concern that the liability limitations could extend to the longer-term care given to victims once they leave a disaster area. (Siddons, 1/17)
