The American Hospital Association has asked the Health Resources and Services Administration to delay by six months a new rule that would prohibit some hospitals participating in the 340B drug discount pricing program from purchasing outpatient drugs through group purchasing organizations, according to an AHA News Now report.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act revised the 340B program, which allows certain hospitals to obtain outpatient drugs at a discount from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The revisions expand the types of hospitals eligible to participate in the program. However, the revisions also bar disproportionate share hospitals, children's hospitals and free-standing cancer hospitals from obtaining outpatient drugs through a GPO. Sole community hospitals, rural referral centers and critical access hospitals may continue to use GPOs.
In a letter to HRSA's Director of Pharmacy Affairs Krista Pedley, AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack urges HRSA to delay the April 7 compliance data "to allow hospitals time to work with their vendors and wholesalers to address the many process and procedural challenges brought on by the Feb. 7 notice, to properly train staff to manage the new processes, and to ensure that these revised internal processes are working well."
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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act revised the 340B program, which allows certain hospitals to obtain outpatient drugs at a discount from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The revisions expand the types of hospitals eligible to participate in the program. However, the revisions also bar disproportionate share hospitals, children's hospitals and free-standing cancer hospitals from obtaining outpatient drugs through a GPO. Sole community hospitals, rural referral centers and critical access hospitals may continue to use GPOs.
In a letter to HRSA's Director of Pharmacy Affairs Krista Pedley, AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack urges HRSA to delay the April 7 compliance data "to allow hospitals time to work with their vendors and wholesalers to address the many process and procedural challenges brought on by the Feb. 7 notice, to properly train staff to manage the new processes, and to ensure that these revised internal processes are working well."
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