MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report last week finding that most healthcare providers surveyed do not follow recommended independent audit oversight guidelines when contract pharmacies are used as part of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. In addition, OIG found that there are inconsistencies in identifying prescription eligibility at contract pharmacies, and how providers avoid duplicate discounts between the 340B program and a state Medicaid program. The OIG findings led Comprehensive Pharmacy Services (CPS), the nation's largest pharmacy services provider that has been involved in the 340B program since its inception more than 20 years ago, to issue an advisory to help qualifying healthcare providers cope with what is anticipated to be an increase in audits by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and stricter federal regulations already in development and expected as soon as June 2014.
"The OIG report has motivated covered entities to find independent auditors and 340B management experts to assist them in identifying areas of non-compliance and to recommend corrective actions to help avoid potential penalties and even disqualification from the 340B program," said Sherry Umhoefer, R.Ph., MBA, Vice President, Compliance & Regulatory Services for CPS. "In response, the CPS team of 340B experts issued an advisory on strategies that covered entities can utilize to prepare for the increased scrutiny and requirements that the OIG report is expected to generate."
CPS is advising all 340B covered entities to consider taking action across three fronts as the 340B landscape continues to change:
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Independent Audits and Reporting: Immediately seek out an independent 340B auditor, as HRSA guidelines indicate, to audit the 340B program overall, with additional attention to contract pharmacy arrangements, and require compliance reports;
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Turnkey 340B Management: 340B is complex to manage, administer and comply with regulations, so healthcare entities that don't have the in-house expertise should find an end-to-end management solution for the 340B program, including preventing diversion and duplicate discounts, providing a complete 340B drug purchasing and inventory control system, compliance-based software to bring it all together, and a team of focused program experts; and
- Full Retail Pharmacy Outsourcing: For those covered healthcare entities with the right set of circumstances, it can be advantageous to bring in experts to run an internal outpatient pharmacy that the healthcare provider owns, thereby avoiding the need to contract with an outside pharmacy where there is less control over 340B program compliance.
Ms. Umhoefer explained that 340B qualified healthcare providers may contract with outside pharmacies to fill their patients' discounted 340B prescriptions, and those arrangements have rapidly increased in the past few years. According to the OIG, HRSA's audits have found that some contract pharmacy arrangements violated 340B program rules. Although the OIG didn't make recommendations in this report, HRSA has announced plans to propose new regulations, the "Mega-Reg" for the 340B Program, which may come out as soon as this June.
The full OIG report, "Contract Pharmacy Arrangements in the 340B Program" (February 4, 2014), can be found at http://www.cpspharm.com/whatwedo/340B/
About Comprehensive Pharmacy Services and 340B Credentials:
Employing over 1,800 pharmacy professionals, CPS is the nation's largest provider of pharmacy services to more than 400 hospitals and healthcare facilities leading to sustainable improved quality and reduced cost. CPS services include pharmacy consulting, inpatient and outpatient pharmacy management, telepharmacy, transition of care services, 340B compliance consulting and 340B split inventory management software. CPS has been actively involved with the 340B program since its inception in 1992, including active participation in Congressional advocacy. As a Corporate Partner to the Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access (SNHPA), the only organization devoted to advocacy on behalf of 340B-covered entities, CPS fully supports SNHPA's activities aimed at the protection of the program's integrity. For more information, visit www.cpspharm.com.