57 senators urge CMS to consider feedback before finalizing 340B proposal

Fifty-seven senators Friday urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to “carefully consider stakeholder feedback" before the agency finalizes its proposal to reduce Medicare Part B payment for drugs acquired through the 340B Drug Pricing Program. "The long-term success of the 340B program is imperative," the senators wrote. "As CMS finalizes the 2018 [outpatient prospective payment system] rule, we implore you to carefully consider stakeholder concerns and feedback, and to act to ensure that reimbursement for 340B providers enables them to continue serving the most vulnerable." CMS has proposed to pay for separately payable, non pass-through drugs purchased through the 340B program at the average sales price minus 22.5%, rather than the current rate of ASP plus 6%. Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Rob Portman (R-OH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) spearheaded the letter. “The AHA thanks Senators Thune, Nelson, Portman, Baldwin, Capito, and Stabenow for leading this bipartisan effort to protect patient care by urging CMS to ensure that 340B hospitals can continue to serve the most vulnerable,” said AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels. “For 25 years, the 340B Drug Pricing Program has been critical in helping hospitals expand access to lifesaving prescription drugs and comprehensive health care to low-income patients in communities across the country.”