The Great 340B Debate
In this webinar, Tom Kraus, J.D., and Shawn Gremminger, M.P.P., debated the merits of the 340B Drug Pricing Program that allows many hospitals to buy outpatient drugs at discounted prices. Kraus, J.D., chief advocacy officer and vice president of government relations at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, debated in favor of the 340B's value, citing hospitals’ thin margins, underfunded services such as trauma care, existing auditing rules as adequate safeguards, and drug company profits. Gremminger, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, debated against it, citing health system wealth and CEO pay, the lack of oversight and transparency into what hospitals spend the money on, and “economic distortion” that he said results in high healthcare costs for employers. The hourlong webinar was jointly sponsored by Managed Healthcare Executive, Drug Topics and the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute.
