Senate Republican leaders aim to submit a draft bill to the Congressional Budget Office early this week and vote on the bill before the July Fourth recess.

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.

CMS projects that Medicare Advantage organization payment rates will increase by 0.25 percent in 2018.

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.

OIG found that the federal portion of spending on catastrophic coverage reached $33.2 billion in 2015, compared with $10.8 billion in 2010.

In a FAQ document, CMS states that the required JW modifier and patient documentation policy applies to separately payable Part B drugs.

Medicare Part D spending increased 17 percent, outpacing overall prescription drug spending increases, according to CMS data.

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.

March 8 proposed rule details two approaches agency will test to encourage prescribing of lower-cost medications: reimbursement rate adjustments and value-based purchasing.

Proposed regulations would dramatically narrow access to 340B, harming vulnerable patients and putting entire communities at risk of losing vital services.

Final rule and implementation as described in the guidance could significantly reduce Medicaid payments for 340B-covered outpatient drugs in some states.

House, Senate panels to examine rising cost of drugs, lack of transparency in the drug price negotiation process, and barriers to generic drug applications.

U.S. District Court says 2014 HRSA interpretive rule is contrary to plain language of ACA provision that excludes certain hospitals from 340B discounts on orphan drugs.

Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc., charged 340B covered entities incorrect rates between April 18, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2014. Refunds are available for products purchased directly from Heritage or through a wholesale distributor.

Proposed changes could significantly narrow the scope of patients for whom 340B pricing may be utilized and reduce potential savings from program

Omnibus guidance proposes an expanded list of six requirements for an individual to be considered a patient of a 340B covered entity.

Failure to recertify will result in removal from the 340B program. Authorizing officials from all hospitals should have already received an email with information needed to recertify from the Office of Pharmacy Affairs.

Sen. Grassley requested a hearing on recent 340B GAO report. House calls and clinical trials for Medicare patients each pass one chamber. Committees review Medicare hospital payments, HIT, and marketplaces.

Report suggests financial incentive for hospitals to prescribe 340B drugs, a claim America's Essential Hospitals calls unfounded and troubling.

The 2015 recertification period will be from Aug. 5 to Sept. 9. Failure to recertify will result in removal from the program.

Proposed rule also calls for increased transparency in ceiling price calculation. Separate guidance to replace mega reg.

Parts of the Cures package will now likely go to other House committees for review. The Senate will discuss NSA surveillance after recess.

We are pleased to see that this amendment was not included in the Cures package and look forward to working with lawmakers to strengthen the 340B program in the future.