Tag archives: 340B drugs

CMS publishes CY 2019 changes to hospital outpatient prospective payment and ambulatory surgical center payment systems and quality reporting programs final rule

Photo of Thomas Dowdell (US)By Thomas Dowdell (US) on Posted in News from DC
On November 2, CMS published its CY 2019 hospital outpatient prospective payment and ambulatory surgical center payment systems and quality reporting programs final rule. In the final rule CMS implements its proposal to pay clinic visit services performed in excepted off-campus provider-based departments (PBDs) a Medicare Physician Fee Schedule – equivalent payment rate. These services … Continue reading

CMS proposes significant Medicare OPPS and ASC payment system changes for 2019

Photo of Thomas Dowdell (US)Photo of Jeff Wurzburg (US)By Thomas Dowdell (US) and Jeff Wurzburg (US) on Posted in Regulatory
On July 25, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published its 2019 Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system proposed rule.  A fact sheet describing the proposed rule is available here. The proposed rule can be accessed here. CMS proposes to update hospital OPPS payment rates … Continue reading

GAO releases report on the differences between 340B and non-340B hospitals

Photo of Thomas Dowdell (US)By Thomas Dowdell (US) on Posted in News from DC
On June 18, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the 340B program, entitled “Drug Discount Program: Characteristics of Hospitals Participating and Not Participating in the 340B Program.” The 340B Drug Discount Program requires drug manufacturers to provide discounts on outpatient drugs to certain categories of eligible hospitals. Hospitals that serve … Continue reading

House Subcommittee on Health holds hearing on 340B program

Photo of Thomas Dowdell (US)By Thomas Dowdell (US) on Posted in News from DC
On July 11, the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the 340B program, entitled “Opportunities to Improve the 340B Drug Pricing Program.” In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX) stated that it is reasonable to review the 340B program because healthcare has “evolved significantly” since … Continue reading

Senate HELP committee holds hearing on 340B program

Photo of Jeff Wurzburg (US)By Jeff Wurzburg (US) on Posted in News from DC
On March 15, 2018 the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on the 340B program.  In his opening statement, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) highlighted the expansion of the 340B program over the past five years and stated that Congress needs “a better understanding of its purpose, and why the 340B … Continue reading

CHIP Program funding remains in limbo; Senators advocate reversal of 340B Drug Discount Program cuts; CMS reports on 2016 U.S. health expenditures

Health Law PulseBy on Posted in News from DC
Payments under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) remain uncertain in many states without an extension of federal funding to the program. CHIP provides insurance coverage for children whose parents earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford other health insurance coverage. While the short-term spending bill signed into law on December 8 allows for … Continue reading

Senate tax bill would effectively repeal ACA individual mandate; House legislation to reverse 340B Drug Discount Program cuts; CMS addresses prescription drug costs and the opioid crisis

Health Law PulseBy on Posted in News from DC
On November 14, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) released the Chairman’s Mark to the Senate version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Hatch’s version of the tax plan effectively repeals the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate by reducing the associated penalty to $0. The ACA individual mandate requires individuals to buy … Continue reading

340B drug discount program payment reductions challenged; Alex Azar nominated as next HHS Secretary

Photo of Thomas Dowdell (US)By Thomas Dowdell (US) on Posted in News from DC
On November 13, the American Hospital Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, America’s Essential Hospitals, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, Henry Ford Health System, and Fletcher Hospital filed a lawsuit in United States District Court for the District of Columbia seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, including a preliminary injunction preventing the reduction in payments for 340B … Continue reading

CMS issues 2018 hospital OPPS and home health PPS final rules

Photo of Thomas Dowdell (US)By Thomas Dowdell (US) on Posted in News from DC
On November 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system final rule for Calendar Year (CY) 2018.  On the same day CMS also issued its home health prospective payment system 2018 final rule.      OPPS payment rates will … Continue reading

U.S. Senate Republican leadership decides against full Senate vote on Graham-Cassidy ACA repeal and replace legislation; HHS Secretary Tom Price resigns under pressure from the White House

Photo of Thomas Dowdell (US)By Thomas Dowdell (US) on Posted in News from DC
On Tuesday, September 26, Senate Republican leadership decided not to hold a full Senate vote on the Graham-Cassidy Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and replace legislation. The previous day, Monday, September 25, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the Graham-Cassidy bill. Following the hearing, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announced her opposition to the … Continue reading

Senate Republican leadership plans vote to begin debate on health care reform legislation; House Budget Committee approves budget resolution; 340B program hearing held

Health Law PulseBy on Posted in News from DC
Without enough votes to begin debate on the July 13th version of the “Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017” on Monday, July 17, Republican leaders in the Senate called for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without an immediate plan to replace the ACA. According to a report issued by the Congressional Budget … Continue reading

Senate delays vote on health care bill; CMS issues OPPS and physician fee schedule proposed rules; House subcommittee to hold hearing on 340B drug pricing program

Photo of Thomas Dowdell (US)By Thomas Dowdell (US) on Posted in News from DC
As reported last week , on Thursday U.S. Senate Republican leadership released their latest version of the “Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017.” The Congressional Budget Office score of the revised bill was expected today, with Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell intending for the full Senate to debate and vote on the legislation this week. However, last … Continue reading
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