Episode 27: HELP 340B Hearing Surprises, Grantees Conference Takeaways & Rebate Pilot Webinar Recap

In this episode, 340B Report Publisher and CEO Ted Slafsky and Associate Editors and Senior Writers Shannon Young and Will Newton break down the latest in 340B news, including the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee's recent hearing on 340B, key takeaways from the 340B Grantees Fall Conference in Atlanta and 340B Report's recent webinar on the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) 340B rebate pilot and where we may be headed next on that controversial proposal.

Key Topics Covered:

Senate HELP Committee Mixes 340B Criticisms and Support

Shannon and Will provide an in-depth look at the Senate HELP Committee's Oct. 23 hearing on the 340B program, which occurred despite an ongoing federal government shutdown. Shannon discusses the dark money anti-340B campaign now underway in Washington, D.C., and how many provider advocates were pleasantly surprised about how the hearing went. Will explains that while HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) reiterated familiar 340B criticisms, many lawmakers from both parties defended the program's importance to providers. He also notes that the hearing often veered off topic, with many Democrats criticizing the government shutdown and health care cuts.

Ted also discusses the growing momentum for a bipartisan group of senators' draft bill, the SUSTAIN 340B Act.  He notes that multiple lawmakers expressed support for that effort, including longtime 340B critic Cassidy. Ted also shares insights into the status of the SUSTAIN Act and what might be included in the legislation.

Takeaways from 340B Grantees Conference in Atlanta and Industry Conference in NYC

Ted and Will discuss their recent trip to Atlanta for the 340B Grantees Fall Conference, where they each moderated panels. Will discusses his panel on state 340B legislative activity and shares providers' concerns that drugmakers could use the 340B program as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Trump administration on things like direct-to-consumer drug pricing and pharmaceutical tariffs. Ted discusses continued provider concerns with the HRSA's 340B rebate pilot proposal and shares insights on potential 340B negotiations with the Trump administration, which he heard at a separate conference in New York City that had a strong drug industry presence.

340B Report's Rebate Pilot Webinar and Rumblings 

Shannon highlights 340B Report's recent subscriber-only webinar on HRSA's 340B rebate pilot proposal, which focused on key implementation concerns and included a lively debate on the rebate proposal's merits. Ted also shares what he is hearing about the status of the rebate model.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Pillr Health. Pillr is a leading provider of innovative solutions designed to optimize and streamline pharmacy operations with a focus on enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving patient outcomes, particularly within the 340B program. We are very grateful to Pillr Health for its sponsorship.

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