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The 340B Drug Pricing Program, designed to provide support for out-patient drug purchases, severely lacks federal oversight, said BRG Healthcare, the business advisory group, in a report sponsored by the Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B).

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 6, 2016) – A new study released today by the Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR 340B) projects the 340B Drug Pricing Program will continue to expand at an unprecedented rate through 2021, by which time it is expected to exceed $23 billion in total purchases at the 340B price. This rapid expansion would see 340B purchases surpass current Medicare Part B drug reimbursement purchases over the next five years.

Given its name, you’d expect the federal 340B Drug Discount Program to save money for the American health system. When it comes to cancer, though, it’s actually a major driver increasing costs, according to a report from the Community Oncology Alliance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2016) – The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) today released a new report using public data analyzed by Avalere Health that found a dramatic decline in charity care provided by 340B hospitals in 2014—the first year of the Affordable Care Act’s coverage expansion. Specifically, more than one-third (37 percent) of 340B hospitals provided charity care representing less than 1 percent of total patient costs in 2014. This is notably higher than the 24 percent of hospitals with that low level of charity care in 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 25, 2016) – The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) today released a new report from the Berkeley Research Group (BRG) examining hospitals’ compliance with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) charity care requirements. The report, which expands on a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) last year, found large numbers of both 340B and non-340B hospitals not complying with key ACA protections for low-income patients. These protections include rules designed to ensure the lowest income patients are not charged excessive amounts for hospital care and are made aware of a hospital’s charity care program. The 340B hospitals included in this assessment generally did not have higher rates of compliance with these rules than other nonprofit hospitals despite 340B hospitals receiving additional financial benefits, totaling almost $4 billion in 2015, through access to discounted medicines.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 2, 2016) – A new fact sheet released today by the Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) uses research from the Berkeley Research Group (BRG) on Medicare Part B hospital outpatient reimbursements. The research found 340B hospitals account for the majority of Part B reimbursement compared to non-340B hospitals and 340B hospitals have been driving most of the growth in Part B reimbursement over time.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 8, 2015) – A new analysis released today by Avalere Health and funded by the Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR 340B) found hospitals participating in the 340B Drug Pricing Program were more likely to acquire independent physician practices than non-340B hospitals.