Health Policy
[Author’s name]
[Institute’s name]
Health Policy
Introduction
Provision of affordable and suitable healthcare services for all the citizens is recognized as on core responsibility of government at both federal and state-level governments. It is important to keenly monitor the healthcare position prevails in society and take necessary legislative measures accordingly. It is noteworthy to mention that currently, there are many healthcare issues that require necessary attention and immediate legislative measures. This form of consideration is important to ensure better healthcare services for all without any discrimination. This research paper focuses to consider the healthcare issue of the 340B Drug Pricing Program to critically examine the current legislative position.
Discussion
Identification and Description of Legislation
The practical approach of the 34B Drug Pricing Program is recognized as the US federal government program initiated in 1992. The central aim of this legislative approach is to ensure that drug producers provide outpatient drugs to eligible individuals in an affordable manner. The central aim of this approach is to effectively provide financial assistance to hospitals concerning the broad idea of a better healthcare domain for vulnerable communities ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"zzXz3Jkq","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Conti & Bach, 2014)","plainCitation":"(Conti & Bach, 2014)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":249,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/LJL75TSP"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/LJL75TSP"],"itemData":{"id":249,"type":"article-journal","title":"The 340B drug discount program: hospitals generate profits by expanding to reach more affluent communities","container-title":"Health Affairs","page":"1786-1792","volume":"33","issue":"10","author":[{"family":"Conti","given":"Rena M."},{"family":"Bach","given":"Peter B."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2014"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Conti & Bach, 2014). A comprehensive examination of the implications of this healthcare program revealed that there is a need for some immediate legislative reforms to attain better outcomes in the form of affordable drugs for the patients.
In recent times, the federal legislative authority of the country is keen to establish better reforms under the broad spectrum of 34B drug pricing program. The authority of congress is interested to present suitable reforms to better handle related concerns such as the issues of uncertainty and the existing tension and debate over the role of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It is observed that the entity of the House Energy & Commerce Committee has taken the leading role when it comes to offering and establishing 340B reforms. The primary goal of the 340B program is to permits qualifying hospitals and healthcare institutions to serve a share of drugs to low-income patients who are eligible for federal grants. The discounted price is available in the form of 340B purchasing prospects that developed the grounds of the proper implication of the healthcare approach.
Identification of the proposed reforms in the form of new legislative measures is an essential step to determine the suitability of new healthcare policy under this spectrum. Reforming in the case of a 340B program is essential to successfully meet the objectives of ongoing transparency and different oversight concerns. It is proposed through the option of reforms that it is not appropriate for HRSA’s resources and staff levels to kept pace with the overall size of the 340B program ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"btzTtfAe","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Oncology, 2014)","plainCitation":"(Oncology, 2014)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":248,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/PCGWR3UI"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/PCGWR3UI"],"itemData":{"id":248,"type":"article-journal","title":"Policy statement on the 340B drug pricing program by the American Society of Clinical Oncology","container-title":"Journal of oncology practice","page":"259-263","volume":"10","issue":"4","author":[{"family":"Oncology","given":"American Society of Clinical"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2014"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Oncology, 2014). Secondly, it is important for them to ensure the provision of a sufficient amount of inpatient services to the patients who are characterized under the spectrum of Medicaid and low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
Key Aspects of the Legislation
The legal spectrum of the 340B drug pricing program associated with various aspects of consideration. In the form of necessary reforms, the entity of Congress developed Section 340B under the domain of the Public Health Service Act. The central agenda of this legal healthcare approach is to requires manufacturers to ensure the availability of a necessary discount for sales of specific drugs. This prospect has prevailed under the spectrum of qualifying for Medicaid reimbursement.
Another significant aspect relevant to this legislative idea is that covered entities in the form of healthcare institutions must restrict the use of different discounted drugs in case of outpatient individuals ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"UOzYciO5","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Pollack, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Pollack, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":251,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/6STNWNSZ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/6STNWNSZ"],"itemData":{"id":251,"type":"webpage","title":"Dispute Develops Over Discount Drug Program","container-title":"The New York Times","author":[{"family":"Pollack","given":"Andrew"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Pollack, 2013). This specific perspective is necessary to successfully obtain the spectrum of the patient with the concern of other basic requirements.
A detailed understanding of the legal perspective of this healthcare program explicitly revealed that the overall management of the 340B Drug Pricing Program is the responsibility of Pharmacy Affairs under the broader domain of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). There are various market dynamics closely linked with the practical idea of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The paradigm of discount is mandatory in the case of all outpatient prescription drug items ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"ydWFlljz","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Desai & McWilliams, 2018)","plainCitation":"(Desai & McWilliams, 2018)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":247,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/49KVRGMI"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/49KVRGMI"],"itemData":{"id":247,"type":"article-journal","title":"Consequences of the 340B drug pricing program","container-title":"New England Journal of Medicine","page":"539-548","volume":"378","issue":"6","author":[{"family":"Desai","given":"Sunita"},{"family":"McWilliams","given":"J. Michael"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Desai & McWilliams, 2018). The approach of statute defined all the eligible purchaser groups and these are mainly recognized as federally qualified health centers, disease-specific programs such as (AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, black-lung clinics, and hemophilia treatment centers). It is vital to mention that the operations of publicly owned hospitals in the form of disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) also considered under the spectrum of the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
There are some specific aspects of legislative reforms of the 340B Drug Pricing Program associated with the overall domain of health policy concern. Identification of these aspects is an essential step to define the actual application and significance of legislative reforms specifically in the case of the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Third-Party Reimbursement
All the drugs that are purchased through the approach of the 340B program are not mainly referring to the uninsured spectrum. The central focus of this legal program is to ensure the provision of healthcare services irrespective of patients’ ability to pay. The spectrum of 340B eligible purchasers makes it easy for the individual to avail services and the bill is paid by the third party. The spectrum of third party mainly established in the forms of Medicare and commercial guarantors.
Speedy Expansion and Concentration
The rapid growth of this discounted form successfully covered a great portion of the population. The active expansion of the program through reform is a suitable condition to enhance the overall spectrum of insurance ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"bPlLuJwZ","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Schur, Cheung, Radford, Slifkin, & Baernholdt, 2007)","plainCitation":"(Schur, Cheung, Radford, Slifkin, & Baernholdt, 2007)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":250,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/EXRU4C23"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/EXRU4C23"],"itemData":{"id":250,"type":"article-journal","title":"340B Drug Pricing Program Results of a Survey of Participating Hospitals","container-title":"Report to the Office of Rural Health Policy. May","author":[{"family":"Schur","given":"Claudia"},{"family":"Cheung","given":"Karen"},{"family":"Radford","given":"Andrea"},{"family":"Slifkin","given":"Rebecca"},{"family":"Baernholdt","given":"Marianne"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2007"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Schur, Cheung, Radford, Slifkin, & Baernholdt, 2007). The application of new purchasers is one key aspect closely links with the practical implications of the program under the legal domain.
Increased Program Oversight
Enhancement of program oversight is another prominent aspect related to the legal reforms of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. This specific program is mainly operated in an extensive manner referring to the proper covering of different healthcare areas. The specific issue of lack of transparency is increasing that requires necessary and immediate attention ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"nJRnJ1iG","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Frakt, 2018)","plainCitation":"(Frakt, 2018)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":252,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/E2LTIWDB"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/E2LTIWDB"],"itemData":{"id":252,"type":"webpage","title":"A Little-Known Windfall for Some Hospitals, Now Facing Big Cuts","container-title":"The New York Times","author":[{"family":"Frakt","given":"Austin"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Frakt, 2018). The current legal reforms are proposed to successfully develop formal requirements and irrational audits to meet the standards of unbiasedness and transparency.
Description of the Healthcare Issues
Identification of specific healthcare issues is necessary to step in case of the legal position of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. This specific approach is essential to measure to determine their implications in the case of healthcare nursing services and the overall healthcare system. The role of the management of hospitals is critical to ensure the proper availability of drugs for the desired individuals. It is important for healthcare providers to ensure the application of fair systems to provides necessary aid to the desired patients.
It is critical for healthcare providers to examine the effectiveness of the overall program in healthcare settings. It is one main responsibility of healthcare providers to ensure the objective that this program successfully satisfies the actual intent of this legislative reform. The nursing staff and all the other healthcare providers also have a better understanding of the main idea of the size of the program. It is important for the healthcare system to determine the appropriateness of the 340B Drug Pricing Program according to the needs of the patients.
Conclusion
To conclude the critical discussion on the significance of legal reforms in the case of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, it is significant to mention that the active involvement of all the shareholders is necessary to measure. It is important to consider different related aspects to meet the objectives of this program successfully.
References
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Conti, R. M., & Bach, P. B. (2014). The 340B drug discount program: Hospitals generate profits by expanding to reach more affluent communities. Health Affairs, 33(10), 1786–1792.
Desai, S., & McWilliams, J. M. (2018). Consequences of the 340B drug pricing program. New England Journal of Medicine, 378(6), 539–548.
Frakt, A. (2018). A Little-Known Windfall for Some Hospitals, Now Facing Big Cuts.
Oncology, A. S. of C. (2014). Policy statement on the 340B drug pricing program by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Journal of Oncology Practice, 10(4), 259–263.
Pollack, A. (2013). Dispute Develops Over Discount Drug Program.
Schur, C., Cheung, K., Radford, A., Slifkin, R., & Baernholdt, M. (2007). 340B Drug Pricing Program Results of a Survey of Participating Hospitals. Report to the Office of Rural Health Policy. May.
