Ascension recently participated in a panel event discussing the latest developments with the 340B Drug Pricing Program. At the 2016 American Hospital Association Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C., Laura Alar represented Ascension and discussed best practices for 340B program management from the local hospital perspective, stressing the importance of the program for those Ascension serves. Laura is the System Director of Pharmacy and Retail Medicine at Columbia St. Mary's in Milwaukee, part of Ascension Wisconsin.
Hospital systems across the country rely significantly on the 340B program to serve their communities. Laura spoke about an Ascension committee that was convened internally to standardize 340B policies and procedures and to ensure full compliance with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) requirements across the national health ministry.
Ascension strongly supports good stewardship of the 340B program through transparency of drug discount savings, accountability on how those savings are used, and assurances that low-income patients receive medically necessary health services and medications at no charge or at a nominal cost.
Other panelists included the Legislative Counsel for the office of Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and a representative from Comprehensive Pharmacy Services, who provided regulatory and strategy updates on the program.
