340B HEALTH RESPONDS TO SENATOR CASSIDY’S 340B DISCUSSION DRAFT
Washington, D.C.— Today, Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) released a discussion draft outlining major proposed changes to the 340B drug pricing program. While the proposal contains several provisions that raise significant concerns for 340B hospitals, it is important to note this is a discussion draft rather than introduced legislation and is intended to solicit stakeholder feedback before lawmakers introduce legislation for consideration.
The following statement can be attributed to Maureen Testoni, president and CEO of 340B Health, the national trade association representing more than 1,600 hospitals participating in 340B:
“Chairman Cassidy’s discussion draft includes sweeping proposals that would profoundly alter 340B and make it more difficult for safety-net hospitals to use 340B to provide essential care to patients in need. We have serious concerns with provisions that would narrow the definition of a 340B patient, impose eligibility limits on hospital off-site outpatient facilities, and authorize a harmful 340B rebate model, among other changes. Put together, these restrictions would result in far fewer opportunities for hospitals to access key 340B savings that they need to care for their patients.
“We will be working closely with our member hospitals to provide comments to Sen. Cassidy and to ensure Congress understands how these proposals would affect hospitals’ ability to stretch scarce resources to provide more care to more patients.”
Contact: Jon Tilton at jon.tilton@340bhealth.org or 202-536-2285