The 340B conference held July 7-9, 2013 brought over a thousand attendees in what was considered, another successful and informative event. The HRSA recertification deadline and the Orphan Drug exclusion were the hot topics from the event.
The popularity of the 340B program further prompted discussions around audit and compliance and scrutiny from Congress and HRSA for program accountability. HRSA continues its plans to audit Covered Entities, with at least 30 audits completed so far this year, with many more expected before the end of the year.
Additionally, other 340B topics covered at the event included:
- Government and Manufacture Audits
- Audits are completed by HRSA (government) and by pharmaceutical manufacturers of covered entities utilizing the 340B program to ensure program integrity to ensure that diversion is not occurring and that patients receiving 340B medications are eligible to receive 340B discounted medications.
- Future of multiple contract pharmacies
- Some in congress and industry are calling for restrictions on the growth of 340B contract pharmacy networks due primarily to the growth over the last 3-4 years. On the other side of this issue others recognize the value of having multiple contract pharmacies as a way to serve and support those in the safety net leading to better health and reduced tax payer funding to support this population.
- Inventory Management
- Inventory management as it relates to 340B is the process of managing drug inventory at the pharmacy level to ensure that 340B drugs are replenished properly to ensure that participating 340B pharmacies have appropriate levels of stock on hand to meet demand.
- Annual Recertification
- Covered entities must become certified on a year basis to ensure they are eligible to participate in the 340B program. The primary criteria is tied to the % of the population they serve that meet established patient income limits.
The conference also held a session describing how the 340B program has helped improve patient outcomes. Lastly, there was hands-on advice on implementing 340B, learning how to enhance compliance, and networking with current and prospective clients.
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