Today, the AIR340B Coalition released a report, which found evidence that disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) participating in the 340B drug discount program often are not using the program as originally intended. The report comes a day before the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holds a hearing to investigate how providers utilize revenue generated by the 340B drug discount program.
The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) released a report last week on the costs of cancer treatment depending on the site of care. The report found that across various types of cancer profiles, the cost of cancer care for patients treated in the community clinic setting is about $8,000 less expensive per month than treatment in the hospital-based setting.* Looked at another way, the total cost of care for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy delivered in the hospital outpatient setting is nearly 60 percent, or $90,144, per year more expensive than the same treatment delivered in independent, community oncology practices.