Bipartisan bill to postpone 340B cuts gains momentum in House

A bipartisan bill in the House to halt cuts to the Medicare 340B drug pricing program has gained 146 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle.

The bill, H.R. 4392, which was introduced in November by Reps. David McKinley, R-W.Va., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif., would nullify a provision of the final 2018 rule for the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System that will reduce 340B payments to 22.5 percent less than the average sales price for drugs purchased through the program. These cuts are slated to go into effect Jan. 1. The going rate in 2017 for drugs purchased through the program was the average sales price plus 6 percent.

Mr. McKinley and Mr. Thompson say this rule jeopardizes care by reducing hospital revenue, especially in underserved and rural communities without address drug prices. "Protecting access to prescription drugs for low income communities should be a priority," Mr. McKinley said in a statement. "Unfortunately, CMS' misguided rule jeopardizes the ability of rural hospitals to provide vital services."

The bill has 146 cosponsors, 20 of whom signed on last week. The bill is supported by more Democrats (102) than Republicans (44). Hospital groups such as the American Hospital Association, America's Essential Hospitals and the Association of American Medical Colleges have voiced their support for the bill as well.

The bill is currently under review by the House committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means.

 

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