New Poll: 86% of Voters Agree 340B Needs to Work Better for Patients
March 30, 2021
Today, the Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) released a new poll conducted by Morning Consult that found a majority of those surveyed agreed the 340B Drug Pricing Program needs fixes to better serve the most vulnerable patients.
“The findings from this new poll are a stark reminder of the work we must do to save the 340B program – most importantly, to support the vulnerable and low-income communities that rely on it to help them access their medications. Through greater transparency, accountability, and oversight of the program, we can get 340B back on track so it fully benefits patients,” said former Illinois Congressman and AIR340B Spokesman Bob Dold.
AIR340B Responds to Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Walden’s Request for Information to Improve 340B
October 30, 2020
AIR340B’s comments and recommendations are chiefly concerned with identifying areas in which the program can be improved to achieve its purpose – to increase access to discounted medicines to safety-net providers who treat needy patients. This includes clearly defining the eligibility of a 340B patient and addressing 340B-driven hospital consolidation, restricting contract pharmacy arrangements, and establishing clear reporting requirements for disproportionate share (DSH) hospitals.
NEW REPORT: Contract Pharmacy Participation in 340B Continues to Grow with Little Patient Benefit
October 21, 2020
The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) released an updated report, “The Impact of Growth in 340B Contract Pharmacy Arrangements – Six Years Later,” which highlights the increasing concerns being raised regarding the role contract pharmacies play in the 340B Drug Discount Program.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: New Study Finds Hospitals Charge Nearly Two Times More Than Physician Offices for Same Cancer Treatments
January 22, 2020
New research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has concluded that payments from private third-party payers for infused cancer medicines are, on average, twice as much when care is provided in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) compared with physician offices (POs).
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: New GAO Report Finds Oversight Lacking For 340B Hospitals
January 15, 2020
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has concluded increased oversight is needed to ensure nongovernmental hospitals meet 340B eligibility requirements.
AIR340B Coalition Reacts to Administration’s Announcement of Final Rule on Hospital Transparency Requirements
November 15, 2019
The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) issued the following statement regarding the 2020 Outpatient Prospective Payment System & Ambulatory Surgical Center Price Transparency Requirements for Hospitals to Make Standard Charges Public final rule.
NEW REPORT: 340B Hospitals Continue to Provide Below Average Rates of Charity Care
November 13, 2019
According to a new report, Left Behind: An Analysis of Charity Care Provided by Hospitals Enrolled in the 340B Discount Program, nearly two out of three 340B hospitals are consistently providing below average rates of charity care, which is defined as free or discounted hospital care provided to patients who meet certain income requirements.
Patient Advocates, Members of Congress, Health Care Leaders Unite to Discuss the 340B Safety-Net for America’s Patients
May 16, 2019
Patient advocates, health care leaders, and members of Congress united at the sixth annual National Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) Stakeholder Summit in Washington, DC, to discuss how to fix the 340B drug discount program so it benefits the low-income, vulnerable, or uninsured patients it was intended to help.
AIR340B Encouraged by 340B Principles Announced by AHA, Looks to Regulatory and Congressional Action to Keep Momentum Going
September 18, 2018
The AIR340B Coalition issued the following statement in response to the new principles for good stewardship of the 340B program announced by the American Hospital Association (AHA) today.
NEW REPORT: Medicare Part B Reimbursements Increase At 340B Hospitals But Decrease At Non-340B Hospitals
May 15, 2018
Today, ahead of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on 340B, the Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) released a new report with analytics by the Berkeley Research Group (BRG) on Medicare Part B hospital outpatient reimbursements.
AIR340B Coalition Applauds Representative Carter’s 340B Legislation
April 25, 2018
The AIR340B Coalition applauds Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA- 1) on his efforts to improve understanding of how hospitals are using the 340B program with the introduction of the 340B Optimization Act.
AIR340B Coalition Commends Senator Grassley’s 340B Legislation
March 1, 2018
The AIR340B Coalition released the following statement in response to Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) 340B legislation, Ensuring the Value of the 340B Program Act.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Hospital System Calls for Fixes to 340B Drug Discount Program
February 2, 2018
While some have vehemently opposed any fixes to the 340B drug discount program, some health systems are now calling for changes that would increase accountability within the program and get 340B back to caring for the vulnerable communities it was intended to serve.
AIR340B Coalition Commends Introduction of 340B HELP Act
January 17, 2018
Today, the Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) Coalition released the following statement in response to the Senate’s introduction of the HELP ACT, “Helping Ensure Low-income Patients have Access to Care and Treatment”:
AIR340B Coalition Applauds Congress for Introducing 340B Pause Act
December 21, 2017
Today, the Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) Coalition released the following statement in response to the introduction of H.R. 4710, the “340B Protecting Access for the Underserved and Safety- Net Entities Act”:
AIR340B Coalition Releases New Report on DSH Hospitals’ Declining Charity Care Rates
October 10, 2017
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.
In Case You Missed It: New Report Finds Cancer Treatment in Hospitals More Expensive Than in Community Practice Settings
October 2, 2017
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.
In Case You Missed It: Washington Hospitals Falling Short on Charity Care, Potentially Discriminating Against Latino Patients
September 19, 2017
The Seattle Times recently wrote on a report conducted by Columbia Legal Services (CLS) that found a record number of hospitals are withholding charity care throughout the state of Washington. 27 of the hospitals referenced are 340B Drug Discount Program covered entities, a program which was designed to help certain health care safety-net providers that serve uninsured or otherwise vulnerable patients reduce outpatient prescription drug costs, giving entities the ability to increase uncompensated and charity care in their local communities.
AIR340B Statement on Energy & Commerce Committee’s Continued Probe into the 340B Program
September 12, 2017
The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) applauds House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA) for continuing their probe into the 340B drug discount program. Last Friday, the committee leaders sent letters to a variety of covered entities participating in the 340B drug discount program, inquiring about how these institutions calculate program savings and use them to help serve patients in their communities. AIR340B issued the following statement:
ICYMI: Congress Calls For Increased Oversight and Transparency of 340B Program
July 24, 2017
The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing last Tuesday to examine the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) oversight of the 340B drug pricing program.
AIR340B Gains Four New Members
July 19, 2017
The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) announced the addition of four new members to the coalition: Citizens Against Government Waste (GAGW), Genentech, Medical Oncology Association of Southern California Inc. (MOASC), and the National Medical Association (NMA). These organizations join the diverse group of health care stakeholders that have come together to advance reforms that strengthen and sustain 340B.
New Study Finds Unprecedented 340B Program Growth To Continue
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.
Report: Increasing Number of 340B Hospitals Provide Minimal Charity Care
May 12, 2016
The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) today released a 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.
Report Finds 340B Hospitals Have Low Compliance with ACA Charity Care Requirements
April 25, 2016
The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B) today released a 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.
Fact Sheet Compares, Examines Distribution of Physician Administered Drugs Among 340B and Non-340B Hospitals
February 2, 2016
A 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.
340B Hospitals Are More Likely to Acquire Physician Practices, Study Suggests
June 8, 2015
An 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.