In this episode, 340B Report Associate Editors and Senior Writers Shannon Young and Will Newton and National Correspondent Bella Czajkowski break down the latest in 340B news, including the latest states to enact contract pharmacy access laws, updates in key lawsuits and new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) restructuring efforts.

Key Topics Covered:

New State Contract Pharmacy Access Laws
Will highlights new contract pharmacy access laws enacted in Nebraska and Utah, including when they take effect and how their respective state governors approached the legislation. He also briefly discusses New Mexico’s newly enacted contract pharmacy access law, which does not take effect until 2026 and is the only enacted state contract pharmacy protection statute that only applies to health centers.

Key Updates in Drug Industry Lawsuits and State Enforcement Action
Will also breaks down a Minnesota federal district judge’s order to dismiss two drug industry lawsuits challenging that state’s contract pharmacy access law. The judge ruled that the drugmakers had no legal standing to sue the state over its contract pharmacy law since Minnesota’s law—unlike most other existing state contract pharmacy protection statutes—has no enforcement mechanism. Meanwhile, in Arkansas, a state official recently ordered AstraZeneca to restore access to 340B drugs at all contract pharmacy locations. AstraZeneca had been the only major manufacturer not to comply with Arkansas’ first-in-the-nation contract pharmacy access law after a federal appeals court panel unanimously upheld the statute in March 2024.

A New CMS Leader and HHS Restructuring

Shannon and Bella provide an update on 340B-related activity at the federal level. Bella discusses the U.S. Senate’s recent confirmation of Mehmet Oz as the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Shannon highlights the recent restructuring at HHS and rumored efforts to move the 340B program into CMS.

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