The system will be unavailable from Aug. 15 until mid-September; hospitals are urged to verify contact information for authorizing officials and primary contacts in the system before Aug. 14.

The delay allows for implementation of a new online tool that will allow providers to register and recertify 340B sites and contract pharmacies.

Proposed rules would affect outpatient payment rates, reduce Medicare Part B payments to hospitals in the 340B Program, and revise site-neutral policies.

The proposed rule would increase outpatient payment rates by 1.75 percent and drastically reduce Medicare Part B reimbursement for drugs purchased through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

A group of Republican and Democratic governors sent a letter to Senate leadership encouraging a bipartisan approach to repealing the Affordable Care Act.

The committee’s intentions remain unclear; we recommend essential hospitals prepare to publicly describe what auditors found and corrective actions taken.

The final rule on drug ceiling prices and manufacturer civil monetary penalties under the 340B Drug Pricing Program now will go into effect on Oct. 1.

HRSA has delayed until March 21 the effective date of a final rule on drug ceiling prices and manufacturer civil monetary penalties in the 340B program.

The Feb. 7 letter offers recommendations on proposed executive orders, regulations, and legislation that could affect essential hospitals, patients.

A memo instructs all executive departments and agencies to temporarily halt pending regulations until incoming department or agency heads can review them.

The regulation makes "penny pricing" final and sets fines of up to $5,000 per instance of a manufacturer overcharging providers for covered medications in the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

Under the rule, CMS would increase the OPPS payment rate by 1.65 percent and provide flexibility in the meaningful use of EHRs, among other things.

CMS provides more flexibility than previously proposed, ensuring non-grandfathered, off-campus hospital outpatient departments will be reimbursed in 2017.

Hospitals eligible for the essential community providers list are participants in the 340B and DSH programs, critical access hospitals, and others.

Hospitals must complete recertification of their compliance with all requirements of the 340B program. Failure to do so results in removal from the program.

HRSA is proposing that a decision-making body within the Department of Health and Human Services be responsible for reviewing claims and resolving deputes.

This week, the Senate votes on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Last week, the House passed a mental health bill in a bipartisan vote.

The proposed rule would implement Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act, which reduced payments for new, off-campus hospital outpatient departments.

The event, from 1 - 2 pm ET, will include important information on the annual recertification process and best practices.

Senate appropriators pass HHS spending bill that includes 340B Drug Pricing Program user fee and instructions to HRSA to consider stakeholder input in final mega-guidance.

The decision follows the pharmaceutical company's recent recalculation of 340B ceiling prices for 25 products for the third quarter of 2012 through the second quarter of 2013.

In new Modern Healthcare commentary, America's Essential Hospitals president and CEO says proposed guidance conflicts with HHS goals for readmissions, access, and care coordination.