Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Chris Stewart (R-Utah) sent a bipartisan letter to congressional leaders on May 8 asking for temporary flexibility for hospitals to maintain their eligibility in the 340B Drug Pricing Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter, signed by 121 other members, urged Congress to allow 340B hospitals to continue to participate in the program even if their Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) adjusted percentage has dropped below the current eligibility threshold due to the payer mix related to the surge of COVID-19 patients.
“To support our safety net hospitals through this crisis, we write to ask that any future supplemental relief bill include policies to temporarily protect these hospitals from losing 340B eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the letter stated. The HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) [see related story] introduced May 12 does not address the 340B program.
- Washington Highlights