Pharmacy Question for the Week of July 31, 2017

Question:

Can you provide any information related to the CMS plan to decrease the 340B program payments in 2018?

Answer:

For 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed paying providers purchasing drugs under the 340B program at significantly lower rates. Specifically, for separately payable drugs and biologicals (other than drugs on pass-through and vaccines) acquired under the 340B program from the average sales price  (ASP) plus 6 percent to ASP minus 22.5 percent. In addition, CMS stated its intent to establish a modifier to identify whether a drug billed under the OPPS was purchased under the 340B Drug Discount Program.

The proposed rule (CMS-1678-P) can be downloaded from the Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2017/07/13.