STATEMENT ON THE NEW BIPARTISAN HOUSE BILL TO SUPPORT 340B HOSPITALS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) today introduced a bill to protect 340B hospital eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reps. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), David McKinley (R-W.V.), Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) are original cosponsors of the legislation. The bill waives 340B drug pricing program criteria that require hospitals to meet a minimum Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) adjustment percentage on their most recent Medicare cost reports to qualify for 340B. The legislation protects hospitals whose percentages drop below those minimums because of changes in patient case mixes due to COVID-19.
The following statement on the bill is attributed to 340B Health President and CEO Maureen Testoni:
“We are grateful for Representative Matsui’s leadership on this bipartisan show of support for safety-net hospitals participating in 340B. As front-line providers in the COVID-19 pandemic, 340B DSH hospitals have had to adjust to changes in the health care delivery system that can change their patient mix and negatively affect their 340B status. This much-needed legislation will protect these hospitals and the patients they serve until our nation fully emerges from this historic public health emergency.”
The House legislation is similar to a bill introduced in March by a bipartisan group of six senators led by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). That legislation also has the strong support of 340B Health.
Contact: Richard Sorian at richard.sorian@340bhealth.org or 202-536-2285.