Remerge drug program

A Republican White House and a Republican-run Congress could bring significant changes to the 340B Drug Pricing Program (“the 340B program”). Many in Washington believe that the new administration and Republicans in Congress will favor the concerns of drug manufacturers over the concerns of providers or health plans. If the price of drugs becomes an issue for the new Congress, it is very likely that drug manufactures will ask Congress to “scale back” or potentially even eliminate the 340B program as the “quid pro quo” for imposing even the most modest forms of drug price regulation.This Alert describes possible congressional and administrative actions. The list of possible threats to the 340B program is not intended to be exhaustive, and both Congress and the new administration could propose many other approaches to diminishing or even eliminating this important program. Although this Alert describes the threats confronting the 340B program, all … [Read more...] about What a Trump Administration Could Mean for the 340B Drug Program

Attorney General Jeff Sessions touted DARE, a drug education program founded in 1983, during a drug policy speech on Tuesday.The DARE program has previously been criticized as ineffectual, but Sessions had praise for the program in his speech at the 30th DARE training conference in Texas, report the Washington Examiner, Rolling Stone and the Dallas Observer.“We have to create a cultural climate that is hostile to drug abuse,” Sessions’ prepared remarks said. “In recent years, government officials were sending mixed messages about drugs. We need to send a clear message. We must have Drug Abuse Resistance Education. DARE is the best remembered anti-drug program. I am proud of your work. It has played a key role in saving thousands of lives and futures.”The National Criminal Justice Reference Service said in a 1998 report to Congress that the DARE program did not reduce substance abuse. However, one newer DARE program called “keepin’ it … [Read more...] about Attorney General Sessions praises the DARE anti-drug program, backs tough approach

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to ramp up its oversight and auditing of covered entities. Since the 340B drug pricing program was created in 1992 to provide discounted outpatient prescription drugs to qualifying safety net providers serving uninsured and indigent patients, the HRSA has mostly taken a hands-off approach to oversight. That all changed with the passing of the Affordable Care Act, which required the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the 340B program.  At the same time, criticism of the 340B drug program is increasing.  Congress, the GAO, and now a consortium of pharmaceutical, pharmacy, and medical associations are calling for 340B drug program reform.  Providers who administer the 340B drug program need to prepare now to justify their access to and distribution of 340B drugs. … [Read more...] about Big Changes Are Happening With the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 340B Drug Program

NEWARK, N.J. — Authorities say a court hearing has not yet been scheduled for comedian Artie Lange following his arrest on a charge of having failed to comply with his court-ordered drug program. The Essex County sheriff says Lange was arrested Tuesday morning at a halfway house on an unspecified violation. Sheriff Armando Fontoura told NJ.com that Lange would remain at the county jail until he is called before a judge for reevaluation. Attempts to reach a representative who could comment on Lange's behalf were unsuccessful on Thursday. Lange spent almost a week in the county jail earlier this year after a positive drug test. He was placed on probation last year after pleading guilty to heroin possession stemming. The 51-year-old was on the Fox sketch comedy series "Mad TV" and was a longtime co-host on "The Howard Stern Show." … [Read more...] about Comedian Artie Lange awaits drug program violation hearing

After receiving bipartisan opposition and heavy concern from patient groups and insurers, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has declared that it will not be moving forward with draft regulations released in January which proposed several changes to the Medicare Part D program.The proposed regulations included a proposal to set a higher standard for the Part D requirements that plans pay for “all or substantially all” drug offerings in six protected drug categories. Also included in the proposal was a controversial requirement that each sponsor offer no more than two Part D plans in the same service area, as well as a provision that would set standards for plans’ preferred provider networks, including requiring that those networks include any pharmacy that agrees to accept the terms. Independent, community pharmacies were upset by the choice to abandon the “any willing pharmacy” provision, as the larger retailers and … [Read more...] about Changes Halted on Medicare Prescription Drug Program