Washington Roundup: August 30, 2024

The House of Representatives and the Senate remain on their District/State work breaks until September 9.

Per the American Hospital News,

“Johnson & Johnson announced Aug. 23 that it would be fundamentally changing the way it makes 340B pricing available for two of its most popular products, Stelara and Xarelto. Starting Oct. 15, J&J will require all disproportionate share hospitals participating in the 340B Drug Pricing Program to purchase these drugs at full price and submit data to J&J. Upon verification of the drug’s 340B status, DSHs would receive a rebate for the discounted 340B price.

“Last week, the AHA contacted the Health Resources and Services Administration for more information as soon as it was made aware that J&J was considering these actions. HRSA notified the AHA today that it has informed J&J that its rebate model is inconsistent with the 340B statute and that this model has not been approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA further informed the AHA that it will take appropriate action as warranted”.

Per a Congressional press release,

“Today [August 26], House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) spearheaded a letter to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Phillip Swagel asking the CBO to analyze a new Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration program that invites an unchecked taxpayer-funded bailout to paper over the flaws in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

Chairman Arrington and Ranking Member Grassley were joined by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO).

Per Modern Healthcare,

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who chairs the panel, sent letters Wednesday [August 28] to CVS Caremark President David Joyner, Evernorth Care Management and Express Scripts President Adam Kautzner, and OptumRx CEO Dr. Patrick Conway asking if they want to "correct the record" and amend testimony they delivered to lawmakers July 23. The committee leader gives the executives until Sept. 11 to respond.