Who is responsible for the 340B drug discount program?

Who is responsible for the 340B drug discount program?

• A. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• B. Health Resources & Services Administration
• C. National Institutes of Health
• D. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Answer: (B)

Health Resources and Services Administration administers the 340B Drug Pricing Program. HRSA, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for implementing and overseeing the program—keeping the 340B database, determining eligibility of covered entities, and coordinating the required drug discounts with manufacturers. The program, created by the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, aims to help certain eligible healthcare providers stretch scarce resources. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services handles payment policies for Medicare and Medicaid (and may interact with 340B in reimbursements) but does not run the program. The National Institutes of Health focuses on research, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focuses on public health surveillance—neither administers 340B.

Health Resources and Services Administration administers the 340B Drug Pricing Program. HRSA, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for implementing and overseeing the program—keeping the 340B database, determining eligibility of covered entities, and coordinating the required drug discounts with manufacturers. The program, created by the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, aims to help certain eligible healthcare providers stretch scarce resources. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services handles payment policies for Medicare and Medicaid (and may interact with 340B in reimbursements) but does not run the program. The National Institutes of Health focuses on research, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focuses on public health surveillance—neither administers 340B.