Bill > HR5256

This bill aims to reform the 340B drug pricing program, which allows certain healthcare providers to purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices to help them serve vulnerable populations. The bill introduces comprehensive changes to how 340B-covered entities can participate in the program, with key provisions including: defining more stringent patient eligibility requirements, limiting contract pharmacy arrangements, implementing patient affordability measures, enhancing transparency and reporting requirements, establishing a claims data clearinghouse, and imposing new oversight and compliance mechanisms. Specifically, the bill would require hospitals and other covered entities to meet more detailed criteria for program participation, such as providing a minimum amount of charity care, restricting the number of contract pharmacies, implementing sliding-scale discounts for patients, and submitting detailed data about drug purchases and usage. The bill also introduces significant penalties for non-compliance, including civil monetary penalties and potential removal from the 340B program. The overall intent is to ensure that the 340B program more effectively serves its original purpose of helping healthcare providers that serve low-income and underserved communities improve patient access to affordable prescription drugs.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5256/all-info