The House reviewed 15 bills July 11 that would revamp the oversight, transparency and organization of the 340B Drug Discount Program.
Among the proposals considered was one that would create a Senate-confirmed assistant secretary position to oversee the program, one that would put a two-year moratorium on new organizations joining 340B, and another that would require HHS to publish ceiling prices for 340B drugs.
Yet another would increase the minimum Medicare disproportionate share adjustment percentage from 11.75 percent to 18 percent. This percentage reflects how much care hospitals are providing to low-income patients. Increasing the minimum could boot DSH hospitals that fall below the threshold out of the 340B program.
The House may take up the bills in the fall. The 340B program has been the subject of a lawsuit brought by three major provider associations to stop $1.6 billion in cuts to the program. The challenge was rejected July 17 by three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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