Sentry Data Systems recently hired Envision Health, a Detroit-based, clinically informed healthcare marketing and PR consulting firm, to conduct in-depth research interviews with hospital 340B program managers and leading independent 340B consulting firms to better understand their top 340B priorities.

The American Hospital Association and other hospitals and groups are still working to appeal the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia’s December 29 decision to dismiss the AHA lawsuit that had been filed against CMS to prevent the 340B program reimbursement cuts from taking effect.

This year’s conference focused on the events leading up to 2018 and the future of 340B. With all the change and uncertainty in the past year, action is necessary. Hospitals are seeing the effects of this upheaval and will need to ensure their voices are heard.

With the 340B program taking the spotlight with this year’s administration and Congress, covered entities will need to measure their patient success stories and voice their concerns.

One large medical center has found a way to make the most of its 340B program, further establishing itself as a leading institution in the nation, by increasing its 340B-eligible prescription volume by more than 100 percent in a matter of months…

While lawmakers and judges continue to make decisions that will affect the future of the 340B program, hospitals and health systems are still in need of programs and solutions to remain compliant, and vulnerable patients are still in need of the safety-net for care.

In a recent survey of hospital pharmacy executives conducted by Porter Research, 78% of respondents answered “yes” when asked, “Are you aware the Federal DEA agency has created a task force seeking to identify diversion fraud in hospitals…

On November 1, CMS issued a final ruling on the 340B Drug Pricing Program reimbursement cuts, which will reduce the reimbursements CMS offers to hospitals for drugs that qualify under the 340B program from 6 percent above sale price to 22.5 percent below. The cut will go into effect January 1 of next year.

With close to 25,000 health-system pharmacists from around the world in attendance, best practices in 340B and analytics were key topics of discussion at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting this year.