WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), announced a hearing for Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at 10:15 a.m. in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “Examining HRSA’s Oversight of the 340B Drug Pricing Program."
#SubOversight will get an update on the 340B drug discount program, which was created by Congress in 1992. The program allows eligible entities to purchase certain outpatient drugs at reduced prices from drug manufacturers. The number of entities participating in the 340B program has nearly quadrupled since 2011.
“With the number of covered entities nearly quadrupling in less than a decade, the 340B program’s lack of sufficient oversight, as revealed by the GAO, is alarming," said Chairman Murphy. “As the program continues to expand, our first priority must be to examine how this program is impacting patients, providers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders and ensure that we are protecting program integrity."
Confirmed to testify:
* Krista M. Pedley, PharmD, MS, CDR, USPHS, Director, Office of Pharmacy Affairs, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
* Debbie Draper, Director, Health Care, Government Accountability Office (GAO); and,
* Erin Bliss, Assistant Inspector General, Office of Evaluation and Inspections, Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Both the GAO and HHS OIG have done work in this area, and will speak to the recommendations they have made to HRSA, as well as other potential areas for improvement.as they are posted.
