STAT+: Feds tell drug makers to offer discounts to safety-net hospitals or face penalties
After a year of controversy, the Health Resources and Services Administration notified six large drug makers that they violated the law by ending discounts to a federal program providing discounted medicines to hospitals and clinics serving mostly low-income populations.
At issue is the 340B drug discount program, which requires drug makers to offer discounts that are typically estimated to be 25% to 50% — but could be much higher — on all outpatient drugs to hospitals and clinics that serve low-income populations. There are approximately 12,400 so-called covered entities, including 2,500 hospitals, participating in the program.
