title: Comprehensive Legislative Reform to Protect the Integrity of the 340B Drug Discount Program.
abstract: The 40B Drug Discount Program (340B Program) is a federally facilitated program that requires drug manufacturers to provide steep discounts on outpatient prescription drugs to qualifying safety net health care providers. The federal program is intended as a safeguard to ensure access to affordable drugs to the indigeut. However, over the last two decades safety net health care providers have exploited financial incentives under the 340B Program at the expense of drug manufacturers and patients, including the most needy and vulnerable populations-they are committed to serve. Although the federal government has been applauded for increasing effortsto combat health care fraud and abuse including recovering $3.3 billion in 2014, federal officials and the general public have paid markedly less attention to pervasive abuse of the 340B Program. In 2014, drug purchases of 340B-designated drugs totaled $7 billion and are expected to increase to $12 billion: by 2016 as a result of the expansion of the program under the Affordable Care Act. The 340B Program has completely lost its way, and comprehensive legislation is necessary to realign the program with its intent.
authors.forename: Lowell M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zeta
mesh_terms: D016527:Drug Costs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005607:Fraud / Q000191:economics; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008484:Medicaid; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011203:Poverty; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics*; D064876:Safety-net Providers / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States; D014488:United States Health Resources and Services Administration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs