Republicans seek details on HRSA's 340B audits

A group of six Congressional Republicans sent a letter to HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration seeking details on the agency's audits of the eligibility of healthcare entities for the 340B drug discount program. The program requires manufacturers to give deep discounts on outpatient drugs to hospitals and clinics that bear the brunt of providing healthcare to low income and other special populations.

HRSA began the audits in FY12 after a 2011 report from the Government Accountability Office said HRSA's oversight of the 340B program was "inadequate to provide reasonable assurance that covered entities and drug manufacturers are in compliance" with the program's requirements. According to the letter, during 2012 HRSA decertified about 250 entities from the 340B program. The agency said it recertified more than 3,800 entities during the same time period. ...