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October 03, 2019

CMS Seeks to Collect 340B Drug Acquisition Cost Data

On September 26,CMS provided notice that it plans to begin collecting drug acquisition cost data from hospitals that participate in the 340B drug discount program.  CMS stated that it needs information on the prices that hospitals pay for drugs under the 340B program in order to implement a policy to adjust reimbursement rates for 340B drugs included in the outpatient prospective payment system final rule for calendar year 2018.  Although the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia previously ruled against CMS’s plan to cut 340B reimbursements in American Hospital Ass’n v. Azar, CMS is appealing that decision.  According to CMS, the possibility of it winning its appeal makes it important “to begin obtaining hospital acquisition cost survey data for [specified covered outpatient drugs] for possible use to set payment rates based on acquisition cost for drugs and biologicals acquired under the 340B program.”