A bipartisan group of six senators who have traditionally championed the 340B program — Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) — unveiled on Feb. 2 the next steps in their ongoing work to provide “clarity, transparency, and accountability in the 340B program.” To inform this work, the senators previously issued a request for information containing six questions examining various aspects of the program, to which the AAMC responded [refer to Washington Highlights, July 28, 2023].
In their most recent letter to 340B invested parties, the senators articulated their belief in the necessity for additional legislation to ensure that “the program remains strong, long into the future.” To this end, they have developed discussion draft legislation, titled the Supporting Underserved and Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Integrity Now and for the Future of 340B (SUSTAIN 340B) Act, which spans multiple aspects of the program, including contract pharmacy arrangements, child sites, patient definition, transparency, program integrity, and others.
The discussion draft legislation is accompanied by a subsequent request for information, which contains a series of questions focused on a patient definition, appropriate usage of contract pharmacies, and oversight of child sites. Feedback from invested parties, including comments on the discussion draft and responses to the supplemental request for information, are due no later than April 1.
- Washington Highlights