Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

HHS looks to alter 340B patient definition, regulatory authority for drug pricing initiative

Modern Healthcare: As HHS Secretary Alex Azar on Monday bludgeoned the pharmaceutical industry and promised that he would use his "very powerful pen" to upend Medicare Part B's payment structure, the agency asked providers and pharmaceutical companies to weigh in on potential changes to the 340B drug discount program.

In a newly released request for information, the Trump administration asked 340B stakeholders to weigh in on measures that have been floated in Congress, including a "patient definition" that would specify who qualifies for the drug discount, and moving 340B regulatory authority to HHS. The agency also want feedback on whether 340B's growth has raised list prices in the commercial market and ultimately affected payers, including Part D plans.

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