This week, we are joined by 340B Health President and CEO Maureen Testoni . Maureen provides analysis of the most recent developments regarding the 340B contract pharmacy dispute and what’s next in the efforts to resolve the matter. Before our conversation, we share the findings of a recently released 340B Health report that demonstrates how 340B hospitals are treating large percentages of patients who often are underserved by the broader health care system. HRSA’s Letters to Drug Companies On M...
Jun 28, 2021•20 min
This week, we are joined by Kyle Robb, a state policy and advocacy associate for the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) . Kyle discusses the rise in payer-mandated white bagging, why hospital pharmacists are concerned about the trend, and how health providers and patients are affected by this model. Before the interview, our news update covers the critical step the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) recently took to enforce the law on drug companies that have...
Jun 07, 2021•22 min
It is the one-year anniversary of 340B Insight, and this week we are joined by Anne Webster, a nurse practitioner for UnityPoint Health Methodist in Peoria, Ill. Anne discusses how drug company restrictions on 340B pricing on drugs dispensed at community pharmacies have directly affected her patients living with diabetes and their ability to access the insulin and other medications they need to manage their conditions. Please note that the episode was recorded prior to the Health Resources &...
May 17, 2021•20 min
This week we are joined by Sean Dickson , director of health policy for West Health Policy Center . Sean is an expert on the U.S drug system and focuses on policies that reduce prescription drug costs. Sean discusses why drug prices are so high, his research on how 340B fits into the drug pricing policy conversation and affects overall drug pricing, and what approaches policymakers can take to curb high drug prices. Before the interview, our news update shares developments on drug pricing bills ...
May 03, 2021•21 min
This week we are joined by Maureen Testoni , 340B Health’s president and CEO. Maureen provides her expert analysis on the top 340B developments from the first quarter of 2021. The conversation includes the latest on drug manufacturers denying 340B discounts on drugs dispensed at community pharmacies, attempts to turn 340B into a rebate program, and payers and pharmacy benefit managers making mandatory changes to their claims processes. Maureen also shares positive recent developments on advocati...
Apr 19, 2021•24 min
April is National Cancer Control Month , and this week we are joined by Dr. Gerold Bepler , president and CEO at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. Dr. Bepler discusses the unique role cancer centers play in preventing and treating cancer, the importance of 340B to Karmanos and its patients, how Karmanos is addressing racial and ethnic disparities in cancer treatment, and the partnership it has formed to expand access to cancer research and treatment in rural communities. Befo...
Apr 05, 2021•21 min
This week we are joined by Amanda Sellers Smith , the assistant counsel for 340B Health. While 340B is a federal program, it is intertwined with Medicaid and states’ oversight of the health care marketplace. Amanda discusses how states are protecting 340B covered entities from discriminatory reimbursement, why changes to state Medicaid policy can affect 340B in multiple ways, and how listeners can advocate for 340B at the state level. Before the interview with Amanda, we recap the results of the...
Mar 22, 2021•21 min
This week we are joined by Dr. John Carlo, CEO of Prism Health North Texas. Prism Health is a Ryan White Clinic, which are grantees of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. They provide care to patients at risk of or living with HIV/AIDS and are one of 16 types of 340B covered entities. John discusses 340B’s role in Prism Health’s ability to care for patients, how Ryan White Clinics work together with 340B hospitals, how they are serving patients du...
Mar 08, 2021•21 min
This week we continue our two-part series focused on how 340B hospitals are pursuing health equity. In our recently released Health Equity Report , 340B Health profiled nine hospitals working to eliminate health disparities in their communities. Today, we continue sharing the stories of three hospitals from that report. For this episode, we are broadcasting from our virtual booth in the exhibit hall at the 340B Coalition Winter Conference that started Feb. 16 and will run through Feb. 24. After ...
Feb 22, 2021•18 min
This week, we begin a two-part series focused on how 340B hospitals are pursuing health equity. The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the significant racial and ethnic disparities in health care and patient health outcomes. Today, we focus on three hospitals featured in 340B Health’s recently released health equity report and hear more about how they’re working to eliminate health disparities in their communities. Before we launch into the episode, we answer a member question about the many laws...
Feb 10, 2021•18 min
This week we are joined by Scott Milner, senior director of pharmacy, business development, purchasing, 340B, and infusion services at St. Luke’s Health System in Idaho. Scott shares his personal experiences on how the health system has been finding ways to overcome COVID-19 vaccine distribution challenges and describes how the effort has become a personal mission for him. Prior to the interview, we discuss in our news update segment how drug companies are suing HHS in response to the department...
Jan 25, 2021•24 min
This week we are joined by Steven Miller, vice president of pharmacy services at 340B Health. Steve discusses Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) audits of 340B hospitals and shares practical advice for how hospitals can best prepare, including the resources that are available to them. Prior to the interview, we provide a major news update you might have missed during the holiday season on the ongoing 340B contract pharmacy issue. HRSA Audits 101 In 2015, HRSA started auditing ...
Jan 11, 2021•21 min
In our final episode of 2020, we are joined by Maureen Testoni , the president and CEO of 340B Health. Our episode follows up last week’s bonus episode on 340B Health’s recent joint lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services regarding drug manufacturers’ refusals to provide 340B discounts when drugs are dispensed at community-based contract pharmacies. Maureen provides additional analysis on the issue and discusses her concerns with how some drug companies are attempting to chan...
Dec 21, 2020•17 min
This week we have a breaking news bonus episode of 340B Insight. 340B Health President and CEO Maureen Testoni joins us to discuss the filing of a lawsuit against the Department of Health & Human Services with four other national hospital organizations, a national pharmacist’s organization, and three individual 340B hospitals, seeking to halt drug companies’ refusals to provide 340B discounts to hospitals on covered drugs dispensed at community-based contract pharmacies. Manufacturers’ Actio...
Dec 16, 2020•8 min
This week we are joined by Danielle Sestito, system director for the 340B program at Northwell Health in New York. Northwell Health is New York’s largest health system and was one of the systems most affected by the initial COVID-19 outbreak last spring. Danielle shares how Northwell responded to the initial outbreak and how it has prepared for a resurgence. She also discusses how the health system has avoided drug shortages while maintaining 340B compliance and the importance of HRSA’s 340B reg...
Dec 07, 2020•21 min
This week, we speak with Rodney Whitlock , former legislative staffer for Republicans on Capitol Hill and Jeremy Sharp , a former Capitol Hill and executive branch staffer for Democrats. Rodney and Jeremy discuss with 340B Health’s Kathryn DiBitetto how the incoming Biden administration and new Congress might affect the 340B program. The conversation also discusses what the congressional lame-duck session before the end of the year will mean for 340B and how hospital advocates should be preparin...
Nov 23, 2020•23 min
For this episode of 340B Insight we speak with Alan Morgan , CEO of the National Rural Health Association. Alan previews National Rural Health Day on November 19, discusses how rural hospitals are faring during the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of rural hospitals, the role of 340B to help hospitals stay afloat, and why drug manufacturers attacks on contract pharmacies are detrimental to rural hospitals and their patients. In our news segment prior to the interview, we recap how Novartis has beco...
Nov 09, 2020•23 min
In this episode, we speak with Julie Clements , Director of Health and Clinical Affairs at the University of California Office of Federal Government Relations. Clements details why advocating for 340B is critical, how health care professionals can engage in advocacy, and how advocacy has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Importance of Health Care Professionals Advocating For 340B: Clements discusses how important it is for those who work with the 340B program every day, such as pharmacis...
Oct 26, 2020•23 min
In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Jessica Tilton, the clinical coordinator for the University of Illinois Health Medication Therapy Management Clinic and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy. Jessica discusses the research she and her colleagues have conducted that demonstrates how the clinic is measurably improving patient health outcomes. Prior to the interview, we provide news updates on additional ...
Oct 13, 2020•20 min
In this episode, we speak with Caroline Steinberg , Vice President of Research and Policy Analytics at 340B Health, about research into the 340B program. For more information about 340B Health’s research, you can review the research page on our website. Before the interview, our news segment covers the latest updates on proposed Medicare cuts to 340B hospitals and 340B Health’s Virtual Hill Day last week. The Role of Research : Research is vital for educating policymakers about the 340B program ...
Sep 29, 2020•21 min
In this episode, we spoke with Nicole Shoquist, Chief Pharmacy Officer for JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas. Nicole described the importance of 340B in meeting the needs of patients experiencing homelessness. Nicole describes JPS’s innovative response to care for these patients during the height of the pandemic that included telehealth and new ways to help patients receive their prescriptions. Prior to the interview, our news update segment provides an update on drug manufacturers refusin...
Sep 14, 2020•20 min
In this episode we speak with Maureen Testoni , President and CEO for 340B Health, on new 340B policy developments in recent weeks that include a major court decision and drug manufacturer challenges to 340B contract pharmacies. Prior to the interview, we answer a member question on changes this year to the 340B hospital recertification process. Some key takeaways from the conversation with Testoni include: Court Decision Upholds CMS Medicare Part B Cuts : Since 2018, The Centers for Medicare &a...
Aug 17, 2020•18 min
In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Jewel Younge , Clinical Pharmacist at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy. We invited Jewel on the podcast after she participated in a panel discussion on health care inequalities during the 340B Coalition Virtual Summer Conference in late July. At the start of the episode, we discussed several news updates including a new presiden...
Aug 03, 2020•22 min
In this episode, we speak with Sarah Dodson, the 340B Program Director at Ascension Via Christi , the largest health care provider in Kansas. Sarah talks about her work with the Community Cares Clinic , which provides comprehensive and hands-on care for vulnerable patients. It’s also been a busy news month for 340B. In our news update segment, we discuss a drug manufacturer’s unprecedented new policy for refusing 340B pricing on one of its drugs to a covered entity that will be distributing that...
Jul 20, 2020•21 min
In this episode of 340B Insight we speak with Chuck Beams, executive director of pharmacy services, business development, and government relations at East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), about how the 340B program helps EAMC serve its rural community. We also provide 340B news updates regarding the CMS Medicare Part B cuts to 340B hospitals and new 340B research. A Diverse Patient Population : EAMC is located in Opelika, Alabama, and serves 11 counties, totaling a population of nearly half a mill...
Jul 06, 2020•23 min
In this episode, we speak with Tracy Gilmore, 340B specialist at Labette Health in Parsons, Kansas. Tracy discusses her hospital’s experience responding to COVID-19 in a rural community and highlights the lifesaving impact of 340B on Labette Health and its patients. A Strong Hospital for the Local Community : Labette County faces numerous challenges, including high poverty rates and childhood hunger. Amid these challenges, Labette Health is a staple of the community providing excellent service f...
Jun 15, 2020•20 min
In this episode, we speak with Mike Bonck, Manager of Pharmaceutical Services for CHI Franciscan Health (CHIFH) in Tacoma, Washington, about the impact of COVID-19 on the US health care system. CHIFH is a system with four DSH hospitals, one rural referral center, and one critical access hospital that participate in the 340B program. Tacoma is one of the most significantly affected regions of the U.S., having experienced a major surge of COVID-19 cases in March and April. CHIFH was one of the fir...
Jun 01, 2020•20 min
In this episode, we speak with our President and CEO, Maureen Testoni , about the impact of COVID-19 on the 340B program. Maureen has been leading 340B Health since April 2018 and previously served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the organization. Maureen discusses several key issues for the 340B community amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some key discussion topics include: 1.HRSA’s Response to COVID-19 : HRSA has provided flexibility for hospitals on 340B drug...
May 21, 2020•17 min
340B Insight is a podcast hosted by 340B Health that provides its members and supporters with timely news updates and discussion around the 340B drug pricing program. This inaugural episode includes news updates on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services going ahead with a controversial survey of 340B hospitals, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill asking congressional leaders to protect 340B during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the feature interview for this episode, the President and CEO of 340B H...
May 18, 2020•22 min
Welcome to 340B Insight! Hosted by 340B Health, the nation’s leading advocate for hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program. 340B Insight features the latest news, expert interviews, and answers to your questions. Learn about the ways 340B hospitals use program savings, demonstrate patient health improvements, respond to public health emergencies, and more.
May 04, 2020•3 min
