U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s eagerly anticipated first take on the 340B drug discount program suggests 340B stakeholders have more work to do educate him on the program’s history, growth and long tradition of bipartisan support.
Kennedy offered his first public comments on 340B during a May congressional hearing, which received little attention as far as 340B is concerned, with the exception of coverage in 340B Report. During the hearing, U.S. Rep Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) described the importance of the 340B program to hospitals, health centers and rural providers in his district, and noted he’s “a strong supporter” of the drug pricing program. He asked the secretary if he could “confirm or deny” the then-rumors that HHS planned to move 340B program oversight from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Read More >
