Hospitals plan to fight 340B rule

A group of hospital associations intends to take legal action to prevent CMS from implementing a rule under which it will start to reimburse for certain Medicare drugs at 340B prices. CMS finalized the rule Wednesday; it is to take effect in January.

Under the new rule, CMS will reimburse hospitals that receive infused Medicare Part B drugs through the 340B program at a rate of average sales price (ASP) minus 22.5% instead of the current rate of ASP plus 6%. The agency said it would reallocate the savings from the new rule "equally to all hospitals" (see BioCentury Extra, Nov. 1)...