In this episode, 340B Report Publisher and CEO Ted Slafsky, Associate Editor and Senior Writers Shannon Young and Will Newton and National Correspondent Bella Czajkowski break down the latest in 340B news, including developments in two major 340B lawsuits, new state contract pharmacy access laws with unique twists and developments on health funding negotiations and drug pricing policy talks in Washington, D.C.

Key Topics Covered:

Courts Hear Arguments in 340B Rebate, Antitrust Lawsuits
Will recaps the latest developments in a key 340B rebate lawsuit, including recent oral arguments in which the drug industry argued it doesn’t need federal approval to institute rebate models. HHS has told the drug manufacturers that they are not allowed to unilaterally implement a rebate model and a hospital group has intervened to oppose the use of rebates. The judge grilled attorneys representing both the drug industry and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS later committed to issuing guidance on a rebate model—and what conditions, if any, they could be permitted—within the next few weeks.

Bella recaps the recent oral arguments in a 340B antitrust case against four major insulin manufacturers. Ted and Bella discuss the significant implications of this case for 340B covered entities, should the appeals court side with the two health centers that have accused drugmakers of colluding on contract pharmacy restrictions.

More States Advance Contract Pharmacy Bills

Will provides an overview of recent contract pharmacy access bill developments in Oklahoma, Colorado and Hawaii. He notes some of the unique provisions contained in those bills, such as new reporting requirements for providers.

Drug Pricing Talks Loom Large

Shannon breaks down the latest developments on Capitol Hill as congressional Republicans work to wrap up wide-ranging spending legislation, which calls for $880 billion in health spending cuts that are largely expected to target Medicaid. The White House has proposed tying Medicaid drug prices to the prices paid in other affluent countries—a policy which has drawn pushback from both the drug industry and provider advocates. Ted recalls a similar initiative President Donald Trump pursued in his first term to tie dozens of Medicare Part B drugs prices to their international equivalents. Shannon also discusses new federal drug pricing legislation and Trump’s HHS budget blueprint.

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Each episode is brought to you by one of our great Ultra Diamond sponsors. Maxor sponsored this week’s episode. From specialty pharmacies to comprehensive pharmacy management, Maxor optimizes the pharmacy experience for patients and partners. We are very grateful to Maxor for its sponsorship.

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In this episode, 340B Report Publisher & CEO Ted Slafsky joins Associate Editors and Senior Writers Shannon Young and Will Newton and National Correspondent Bella Czajkowski to break down the latest developments in the 340B space. The team discusses Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) high-profile report on the 340B program, an executive order sparking concerns among providers, reactions to potential pharmaceutical tariffs and important state 340B bills in Indiana and Tennessee.

Key Topics Covered:

Senate Report Calls for Congressional 340B Reform

Sen. Cassidy unveiled the long-awaited findings of his two-year investigation into the 340B program with a 200-page report that criticized multiple 340B providers and called for significant congressional 340B reform that echoes many drug industry policy asks. Shannon and Ted discuss the implications of the report and stakeholder reactions to it, as well as the latest on a separate bipartisan Senate 340B legislative effort that’s expected to be more provider friendly.

Executive Order and Tariffs Spark Concerns

Will Newton breaks down President Donald Trump’s (R) recent executive order that attempts to revive a controversial rule requiring health centers to pass all 340B savings on insulin and EpiPens directly to certain low-income patients. The order also calls for a survey on hospital acquisition costs—the likely precursor to an attempt to reduce Medicare Part B payments to 340B hospitals. Providers have raised alarm bells over both proposals. Bella discusses the administration’s proposed tariffs on pharmaceuticals and why both drugmakers and provider advocates are warning that they could be problematic for the pharmaceutical supply and patients.

State 340B Bills in Indiana and Tennessee

Will breaks down a 340B hospital reporting bill in Indiana and a contract pharmacy bill in Tennessee that are both likely to soon become law. Tennessee’s unique bill grandfathers in existing drugmaker 340B restrictions but requires the “winners-only” contract pharmacy model that’s popular among providers.

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How to Follow Us and Learn More About This Episode’s Sponsor

Stay tuned for more episodes every other week! 🎧 Subscribe to Inside 340B Report on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube.

Each episode is brought to you by one of our great Ultra Diamond sponsors. This week’s episode is sponsored by Pillr Health, a company known for its 340B solutions that emphasize transparency, integrity, and ease of use for covered entities. Visit PillrHealth.com to learn more.

Subscribe to 340B Report with a Special Discount

We’re offering a special discount for podcast listeners. 340B Report is the indispensable source for news and intelligence on the 340B program. First-time subscribers may subscribe now using coupon code PODCAST25. Not ready to subscribe? Sign up for a 15-day free trial.

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.

Subscribe & Stay Updated

How to Follow Us and Learn More About This Episode’s Sponsor

Stay tuned for more episodes every other week! 🎧 Subscribe to Inside 340B Report on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube.

Each episode is brought to you by one of our great Ultra Diamond sponsors. Verity Solutions sponsored this week’s episode. Verity’s innovative, award-winning 340B program management solutions are designed to optimize your 340B pharmacy spend and maximize your pharmacy supply chain savings. We are very grateful to Verity for its sponsorship.

Subscribe to 340B Report with a Special Discount

We’re offering a special discount for podcast listeners. 340B Report is the indispensable source for news and intelligence on the 340B program. First-time subscribers may subscribe now using coupon code PODCAST25. Not ready to subscribe? Sign up for a 15-day free trial.