House holds hearing on 340B Drug Pricing Program

The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations today held a hearing to review the Health Resources and Services Administration’s oversight of the 340B Drug Pricing Program and how the program impacts patients, providers, manufacturers and other stakeholders. In comments submitted to the committee, AHA said, “For 25 years, the 340B program – which enjoys broad, bipartisan support – has been critical in helping hospitals expand access to lifesaving prescription drugs and comprehensive health care services to low-income and uninsured individuals in communities across the country. In addition, the AHA and its member hospitals support program integrity efforts to ensure that the 340B program remains available to safety-net providers. We have worked and continue to work with [HRSA] and its partners on these efforts.” In addition, the AHA voiced support for the Closing Loopholes for Orphan Drugs Act (H.R. 2889), legislation that would allow 340B-eligible hospitals subject to the orphan drug exclusion to purchase “orphan drugs” through the program when the drugs are used to treat an illness other than the rare conditions for which the designation was given. The AHA also expressed deep concerns over the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ recently released hospital outpatient prospective payment system proposed rule for calendar year 2018, which would drastically cut Medicare payment for drugs acquired under the 340B program.