Tension Heats Up On Capitol Hill Over Drug Discount Program As Cuts Go Into Effect
Hospitals and big pharma are waging a war over the 340B program, which requires pharmaceutical companies to give steep discounts to hospitals and clinics that serve high volumes of low-income patients.
Modern Healthcare:
House Gears Up For 340B Oversight Push
Pressure over the status of a federal drug discount program has intensified on Capitol Hill as Medicare reimbursement cuts for 340B hospitals have officially gone into effect. On Friday, a federal court dismissed several hospital associations' suit that sought to block the cuts and lawmakers geared up for a legislative battle that has grown increasingly convoluted now that financial cuts have become conflated with a push for program transparency. (Luthi, 1/2)
The Hill:
Hospital Groups Dig In After Cuts To Discount Drug Program
Hospital groups are vowing to push forward with a fight against the Trump administration over changes to a federal drug discount program following a setback last week. The American Hospital Association (AHA), America's Essential Hospitals and the Association of American Medical Colleges last year sued to block a rule from going into effect that would result in $1.6 billion in cuts to hospitals participating in the 340B Medicare drug discount program. (Hellmann, 1/2)
