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  • Alan M. Kirschenbaum

    • Federal Court Punts Regarding Remedy Related to CMS’ Invalidated Rule Concerning Medicare Hospital Outpatient Payment Rates for 340B DrugsMay 17th, 2019

      On May 6, 2019, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a Memorandum and Opinion concerning the remedy available to Plaintiffs following the same court’s earlier decision (see our previous post regarding the court’s earlier decision here) invalidating a final rule …

    • Two More States Seek to Establish Prescription Drug Importation ProgramsMay 12th, 2019

      Colorado and Florida have joined Vermont in the list of states seeking to combat high prescription drug prices by establishing programs to import drugs from Canada.  On April 29, 2019, the Florida legislature passed CS/HB 19, which directs the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration …

    • CMS Finalizes Regulations Requiring WAC Disclosure in TV Ads for Rx DrugsMay 10th, 2019

      The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized its proposed rule requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to disclose the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) in Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) television advertisements for certain prescription drugs and biological products (the Final Rule). The Final Rule will appear in the …

    • New Jersey Attorney General Loosens Rules on the Acceptance by Prescribers of Remuneration from Drug ManufacturersMay 9th, 2019

      Responding to objections from New Jersey healthcare practitioners, hospitality and restaurant businesses, and the pharmaceutical industry, the New Jersey Attorney General published an amendment to the state’s rules restricting the acceptance of remuneration by prescribers from pharmaceutical manufacturers.  The final amendment, which appeared in the …

    • Post Script on “Right Rebate” LawApril 24th, 2019

      As expected, Donald Trump has signed the Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 (H.R. 1839), which, among other things, amends the Medicaid Drug Rebate statute to impose penalties for misclassifying innovator drugs as non-innovator drugs to reduce rebates.  We previously posted on this …

    • Medicaid “Right Rebate” Provisions Clear CongressApril 5th, 2019

      The Senate on Tuesday passed H.R. 1839, a bill of Medicaid amendments that included new penalties for mis-categorizing a drug under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP).  The bill already cleared the House on March 25, and is now headed to Donald Trump for signature.  …

    • OIG Proposed Safe Harbor Revisions Take Aim at Formulary Rebates, Volume-Based PBM Administrative FeesFebruary 1st, 2019

      Yesterday the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) released a proposed rule to put into practice an idea floated in HHS’ May 2018 Blueprint for lowering drug prices:  eliminating discount safe harbor protection for manufacturer rebates offered …

    • Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Must Submit 340B Ceiling Prices Starting in the First Quarter of 2019January 23rd, 2019

      Beginning February 15, drug manufacturers will have a new price to report to the Federal government: 340B ceiling price.  Under Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act, a manufacturer of covered outpatient drugs, as a condition of having its drugs be eligible for federal …

    • Federal Court Invalidates CMS’ Reduction of Medicare Hospital Outpatient Payment Rates for 340B DrugsJanuary 1st, 2019

      On December 27, 2018, the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia enjoined the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing a regulation setting reimbursement for hospital outpatient payment rates for 340B drugs at Average Sales Price (ASP) minus 22.5%. A brief history: …

    • CMS Proposes Rule to Reduce Drug Costs Under Medicare Part D and Medicare AdvantageDecember 4th, 2018

      On November 30, CMS published in the Federal Register a proposed rule on Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses. This proposal is the latest in a series of CMS actions to implement the HHS Blueprint to Lower …

    • HRSA: No Further Delay of 340B Ceiling Price and Civil Monetary Penalties RuleNovember 30th, 2018

      On November 6, we reported that the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had proposed to move up the effective date of its 340B program ceiling price and civil monetary penalties regulation from July 1 to January …

    • Trump Administration Takes a Turn at Medicare Part B Payment ReformNovember 7th, 2018

      On October 30, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) soliciting public feedback on a potential International Pricing Index (IPI) Model for payment of certain drugs covered under Medicare Part B. 83 Fed. Reg. 54546 …

    • HRSA Releases Proposed Rule to Move Up Effective Date of 340B Final RuleNovember 6th, 2018

      On November 2, 2018, the Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) released a proposed rule to move up to January 1, 2019 the effective date of implementation and enforcement of the previously delayed final rule implementing the 340B Drug Discount Program (“Final Rule”). The Final …

    • CMS Proposes to Require WAC Disclosure in TV Ads for Rx DrugsOctober 16th, 2018

      The rubber has finally hit the road on an idea that earlier this year was considered (and rejected) by Congress, supported in a presidential tweet, and promoted by FDA Commissioner Gottlieb and HHS Secretary Azar. A proposed rule released today by CMS would require pharmaceutical …

    • Congress Expands Sunshine ReportingOctober 9th, 2018

      Last Wednesday, October 3, a wide-ranging opioid bill cleared its last legislative hurdle by passing the Senate, and is expected to be signed by the President in the near future. H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (“SUPPORT”) for Patients …