Bipartisan House bill introduced to prevent 340B cuts

Reps. David McKinley (R-WV) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) last night introduced H.R. 4392, a bill that would prevent a dramatic reduction in Medicare Part B payments for certain hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released a final rule that reduces by nearly 30%, or $1.6 billion, Medicare payments to certain public and non-profit hospitals for outpatient drugs purchased under the 340B program. “The AHA thanks Representatives McKinley and Thompson for leading this bipartisan effort to protect patient care by preventing CMS from reducing Medicare Part B payments for some 340B hospitals,” said AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels. “For 25 years, the 340B program has been critical in helping hospitals expand access to lifesaving prescription drugs and comprehensive health care to low-income patients and other vulnerable populations in communities across the country.” The AHA, joined by the Association of American Medical Colleges and America's Essential Hospitals, Nov. 13 filed a federal lawsuit to prevent CMS from implementing these cuts.