Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senators John Thune, Debbie Stabenow, Shelley Moore Capito, Tammy Baldwin, Jerry Moran, and Ben Cardin, members of the Senate 340B bipartisan working group, have released a legislative discussion draft aimed at updating the 340B program. The senators sought input from stakeholders last year to find bipartisan policy solutions that would ensure the program's stability and transparency.

In a letter addressed to stakeholders, the senators emphasized the importance of passing legislation in the 118th Congress to provide clarity, transparency, and accountability to the 340B program. They expressed their commitment to addressing concerns raised by stakeholders, including the authorities and resources of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), contract pharmacy arrangements, the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), duplicate discounts, and the promotion of transparency and program integrity.

The 340B program has been crucial to hospitals, health centers, and safety-net providers in South Dakota, enabling them to offer quality care to patients and communities. Under the program, drug manufacturers participating in Medicaid and Medicare provide discounts on outpatient drugs to eligible non-profit healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinics. These savings allow covered entities to deliver more comprehensive services to eligible patients and their communities.

The legislative discussion draft aims to address the key areas of concern identified in the stakeholder input. However, considering comments from stakeholders, recent court decisions, and program developments, the senators are also seeking more information on additional areas such as patient definition, child sites, and contract pharmacy arrangements.

Stakeholders have been invited to submit their comments and edits to the discussion draft in writing by April 1, 2024. The senators assure that these responses will be kept internal and not posted publicly.

The release of the legislative discussion draft demonstrates the senators' commitment to ensuring the long-term strength and effectiveness of the 340B program. By seeking input from stakeholders and addressing concerns, they aim to provide the program with the necessary clarity, transparency, and accountability it needs to continue serving eligible patients as originally intended.