Advocacy Blog

AAHAM continues to work on this important issue and we have exciting news to share from 340B Health!  

Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced a bill today that would help the 340B Program (bill # to be determined). 

The Stretching Entity Resources for Vulnerable (SERV) Communities Act would clarify the intent of the 340B program and specify that 340B savings may be used by covered entities in ways that support their community.   It would enforce laws that were enacted in 2010 with the ACA and require HHS to launch 340B ceiling price database and require manufacturers to pay civil monetary penalties if they knowingly overcharge 340B covered entities.  The act would also require HRSA to audit manufacturers at similar rates to 340B covered entities. As a reminder, HRSA has conducted 800 audits since 2012 and 77% of those are hospital audits. Among its other provisions, the act would notably reverse the Medicare Part B cuts and require CMS to pay 340B hospitals at the same rates (ASP + 6%) as non-340B hospitals going back to January 1, 2018. 

Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) has introduced legislation to require 340B disproportionate share (DSH) hospitals to submit outpatient charity care and outpatient revenue data to the federal government for the parent hospital and all of its 340B-registered child sites. The data would be part of hospitals’ annual recertification of eligibility for the drug discount program by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA would submit an annual report about the data to Congress.

Robocalls are attracting new scrutiny from Congress as complaints to the FTC's Do Not Call Registry have surged surpassing 7 million complaints in fiscal 2017.  These are the states that have the most phone numbers registered and the mot residents filing reports of spam calls to the FTC.

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals finally issued a decision in ACA International, et al. v. FCC regarding the FCC’s Omnibus 2015 TCPA Declaratory Ruling and Order.  The Court granted in part and denied in part the petitions for review.

Bottom line:  Very good for us.  The decision strikes down the worst parts of the FCC order and immediately enhances certain defensive arguments against litigation.  It also provides a clear runway for the current FCC to adopt clear, favorable interpretations and bright-line rules.  And to finally address our pending petition on healthcare consent issues.  

The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) Urges Senate to Continue Essential 340B Drug Program by Passing H.R. 4392

Fairfax, VA - Friday, March 16, the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension Committee held a hearing entitled Perspectives on the 340B Drug Pricing Program.  The 340B drug program has come under scrutiny in recent months by some, how hospitals participating in this program are using proceeds from these prescription drug savings.

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The U.S. Treasury Department released a state-of-the-economy assessment on the federal government for fiscal year 2017. The report states both the U.S. budget deficit and net operating cost have increased as more money is paid than received by the government.

When federal spending is adjusted for inflation, funding levels for many departments and agencies appear relatively stable so far this century, although some received a dramatic but temporary boost in response to the Great Recession. Budgets continue to expand for departments managing entitlement programs.