340B Health

Johnson & Johnson has backed off its plan for now to impose #340B rebates for two of its most in-demand drugs. We appreciate the efforts of our member hospitals, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSAgov), HHS, and nearly 200 U.S. House lawmakers led by Rep. Abigail Spanberger who advocated against J&J’s plans. Replacing upfront discounts with rebates would upend 30+ years of 340B operations and result in major financial burdens on safety-net hospitals and harm to care for patients who rely on them. More: bit.ly/4drzR5N #Protect340B

Pharmacists are an integral link in the chain of care that supports patients most in need. These drug experts educate patients, support other providers, and facilitate initiatives that improve patient health outcomes. Mark Riggle, the assistant chief pharmacy officer at UC Davis Health spoke to us on #340BInsight about how #340B helps achieve all the above and more. Listen now: bit.ly/3YWHlJ4.?

South Dakota stands up for #340B: Last Tuesday, South Dakota became the ninth state in the nation to codify protections for 340B covered entities delivering drugs through partnerships with community and specialty pharmacies. #Becauseof340B and this legislation, safety-net hospitals will be able to provide expanded care and discounted drugs to patients living with low incomes and in rural areas of the state. We congratulate #SouthDakota on this achievement and are closely watching the more than 20 other states that are considering similar legislation, two of which are near passage.?

Several 340B Coalition members have filed amicus briefs in opposition to Johnson & Johnson’s rebate model lawsuit against HRSA. Read news coverage in Becker's Healthcare: bit.ly/41AtWY. The American Hospital Association, Children’s Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and America's Essential Hospitals argue that drugmaker rebate schemes are unlawful and would cause significant financial harm to safety-net hospitals. The providers our associations represent provide accessible and affordable health care services to our nation’s neediest patients #Becauseof340B. We strongly oppose efforts to undermine this mission. ?

Federal judge lets hospitals defend against #340B rebate schemes: in a crucial development, a federal judge has granted our motion to intervene in lawsuits that challenge the government’s authority to reject Big Pharma’s unlawful rebate schemes. The decision allows us, U Mass Memorial Health, and Genesis Healthcare System to present key arguments in court about the significant harm that all 340B hospitals would face if rebates were allowed to take effect. Read about our key arguments here: bit.ly/4aHZEY0. We are proud to continue fighting for the health care safety net and the patients who depend on it. #Protect340B

New research confirms the role of #340B in supporting disadvantaged communities. Read the study here: bit.ly/3QItGl5. Social determinants of health (SDOH) show how our living circumstances affect our health, and recent findings confirm 340B hospitals serve area codes with higher SDOH needs than non-340B hospitals. #Becauseof340B, equity gaps in care shrink and patient health outcomes improve. This is one of the reasons why we continue to #Protect340B from efforts to shrink or seriously curtail it. Read the report here: bit.ly/3QItGl5.

The numbers are clear: #340B hospitals allocate larger portions of their patient revenues on uncompensated and unreimbursed care than their non-340B counterparts. Read the full report and see the numbers for yourself:?bit.ly/437FyEG. This rate even rose sharply during the COVID pandemic, and the gap between 340B and non-340B hospitals continues to widen. Uncompensated and unreimbursed care includes not just charity care but also care for which payment was expected but not received as well as underpayments for care from Medicaid and other payers.

Our latest #340BInsight guest describes how one health system could be forced to reduce its patient assistance program and possibly more if drugmakers were allowed to impose rebates in place of #340B discounts. Shona Carr directs 340B and ambulatory pharmacies for Genesis Healthcare System, one of two member hospitals joining us in our motions to intervene as defendants in five drug company lawsuits involving such rebate schemes. In the episode, we cover what rebates may cost hospitals, how they would affect patient care, and advice for hospitals contemplating rebate requirements. Have a listen: bit.ly/3YWHlJ4. #340BConf??

Johnson & Johnson is opposing our court motion to help defend the government’s authority to block pharma schemes that would turn #340B discounts into rebates. Safety-net providers and patients who rely on their services will face harm if such rebates take effect. J&J and other drugmakers want to use rebates to impose their own rules on 340B hospitals. Learn the details about the proposed rebate models and why we strongly oppose them:?bit.ly/4aHZEY0.

We welcome Thomas Engels back to the helm of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSAgov), HHS. We look forward to collaborating with him again along with the Office of Pharmacy Affairs to make #340B work for the patients who benefit from the program and the safety-net hospitals that provide needed care. #Protect340B?