STATEMENT ON APPROVAL OF 340B ELIGIBILITY PROTECTIONS FOR SAFETY-NET HOSPITALS ON THE COVID FRONT LINES
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program are eligible for temporary protections from a pandemic-related loss of 340B eligibility under a bill Congress approved and sent to President Biden for his signature today. The provisions, passed as part of an omnibus federal spending package, would protect hospitals that did not meet 340B’s minimum disproportionate share (DSH) adjustment percentage requirement because of patient case mix changes during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Hospitals that already lost eligibility could restore it temporarily, and hospitals on the cusp of losing eligibility could prevent that from happening for a temporary period. Hospitals would be required to provide an attestation to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with information on how COVID-19 may have impacted the hospitals’ ability to meet the DSH requirements.
The following statement is attributed to 340B Health President and CEO Maureen Testoni:
“340B Health worked closely with congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to protect 340B eligibility for hospitals serving on the front lines of the national COVID-19 response. We applaud Congress for making these important protections a priority in this legislative package. Safety-net hospitals that underwent large shifts in their patient populations during the pandemic should not lose access to crucial 340B resources because of their commitment to treating all patients in need. We look forward to working with HHS to ensure that all eligible hospitals receive these important protections.”
“We thank Senator Thune, Congresswoman Matsui, and the dedicated group of 340B champions on Capitol Hill who helped us raise awareness of this issue and urged Congress to adopt these eligibility protections on behalf of the safety-net hospitals they represent.”
Contact: Richard Sorian at richard.sorian@340bhealth.org or 202-536-2285.