|
This event has now concluded. Click here to order a conference binder or presentations CD from the event. |
Overview |
A conference designed for health care providers, the pharmaceutical industry,
pharmacies, pharmacy service companies, government agencies, and other entities concerned about providing quality pharmaceutical care to low income and
vulnerable populations while ensuring compliance with drug pricing laws. |
 |
| Introduction |
The federal government is preparing to make more changes to the 340B drug discount program than the program has ever experienced over its 15 year history. Among the changes that are likely to occur in 2007 are the following:
- A potential change in discounts available to covered entities due to federal adjustments made to the 340B pricing formula;
- Increased transparency of 340B calculations affording covered entities a way to identify
potential overcharges for the first time;
- Possible changes to how covered entities have to bill Medicaid for physician-administered drugs bought through 340B and new rebate obligations for manufacturers;
- Clarification of the patient populations eligible to receive 340B-discounted drugs;
- An expansion of the number of pharmacies with which covered entities may contract to
dispense 340B medications; and
- Enrollment of free standing high-Medicaid children’s hospitals into the program.
These changes are described in federal regulations and guidelines that have just been published by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The 340B Coalition invites you to attend its annual Winter Conference to learn about and prepare for important 340B changes that covered entities, manufacturers and other 340B stakeholders can expect to see in 2007. The conference will focus on three areas of regulatory change. The first area relates to implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) by CMS with respect to calculation of average manufacturer price (AMP), expansion of the Medicaid drug rebate program, changes to nominal price regulation and other drug pricing provisions. While changes to AMP may increase 340B ceiling prices, they will also give covered entities an unprecedented opportunity to monitor whether they are receiving accurate prices.
The 340B community is also concerned about how CMS would like to implement a DRA provision expanding the Medicaid rebate program to physician-administered drugs. If CMS expands the program to 340B drugs administered in covered entity clinics, it will (1) expose manufacturers to a risk of providing 340B discounts and Medicaid rebates on the same drugs, and/or (2) force covered entities to pass their 340B savings on such drugs to state Medicaid agencies. These and other DRA-related developments will be discussed in detail at the conference.
The other two areas of regulatory change that will be addressed at the Winter Conference involve administrative actions by HRSA. HRSA has just proposed new guidelines which would make significant changes to both the 340B definition of patient and the requirements applicable to contract pharmacy arrangements. These proposed guidelines could fundamentally change how covered entities purchase and dispense 340B drugs, so the 340B Coalition has decided to devote a substantial portion of the conference to these two important topic areas. Issues to be covered include:
-
An in-depth analysis of the guidelines and how they will affect
different covered entity groups, manufacturers, and distributors;
- Eligibility under the new guidelines of different patient populations, including
employees, nursing home residents, home health patients, prisoners, etc;
- Implications for covered entity partnerships with jails, health departments, and
Medicaid programs;
- The future of alternative method demonstration projects;
- New opportunities for community pharmacies, chain drug stores, mail order
pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit managers to contract with 340B providers;
- Technical guidance on inventory management, stock replacement, patient verification, and audit preparation; and
- The future of new and existing 340B case management, disease management, and
telemedicine models.
Presenters will provide guidance on how covered entities, contract pharmacies, manufacturers and distributors can adjust their operations to accommodate these changes in order to minimize compliance risks without
compromising program benefits.
340B stakeholders will have an opportunity to submit comments to both CMS and HRSA on the proposed changes described above. Conference attendees will learn how to submit comments and will receive guidance from stakeholder advocacy groups. In addition to the speakers from the various members of the 340B Coalition, we expect speakers from CMS, HRSA, the 340B Prime Vendor Program, and the Pharmacy Services Support Center to participate. |
|
| Who Should Attend |
- Pharmacists and clinic directors at institutions providing care to low-income and uninsured populations
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, GPO and pharmacy service industries
- Retail, chain pharmacies, and other providers that contract with 340B entities
- Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, PBMs, and other insurance companies
- State Medicaid Pharmacy Directors and Drug Assistance Program Managers
- AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) officials
- AIDS service organizations
- Consultants, attorneys and other compliance experts
- Federal, state and local policy makers and government relations directors
- Other providers of health care for the uninsured and vulnerable populations
|
|
| agenda |
Download the Preliminary Agenda
Continuing Education Credits for Pharmacists Available!
 |
Continuing education credits for pharmacists will be made available for this conference.
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) continuing education credits provided by Comprehensive Pharmacy Services. |
|
|
| COSTS (Payment must be made prior to the conference) |
Pre-Conference Workshop, February 26, 1:30 pm to 5:15 pm
and
Main Conference, February 27, 8:15 am to February 28, 12:00 pm
Note: When registering you will have the option to select whether you want to attend the pre-conference workshop.
Registration Fees* |
Affiliation |
Pre-Conference Workshop
+
Main Conference |
Main
Conference
Only |
|
$625
|
$575 |
Non-Profit Health Care Providers/Government
|
$825 |
$725 |
Industry - Health or Pharmacy-Related Companies or Firms, Other Businesses
|
$1449 |
$1349 |
|
$1349 |
$1249 |
*Please note that early bird rates expired on January 26, 2007.
**If you are unsure as to whether your institution is part of a 340B Coalition organization, please view the list of current 340B Coalition members at www.safetynetrx.org/public/340b_coalition.cfm.
If you are not yet a subscriber to the Drug Discount Monitor, subscribe today and benefit from the discounted registration fee. More details at www.drugdiscountmonitor.com
|
|
| Registration |
To register for this event, click on the link below.
|
|
| Conference Binder/Presentations CD Orders |
If you can not attend the conference but want to stay informed, you can
purchase a conference binder or presentations CD by
clicking on the Order Binder/CD link below.
Presentations CD (Contains Only Conference Presentations) |
$50 |
Full Conference Binder for Government/Non-Profit Health Care Provider (Includes Presentations CD) |
$150 |
Full Conference Binder for Industry - Health or Pharmacy-Related Companies or Firms, Other Businesses (Includes Presentations CD) |
$250 |
|
(Binders/CDs can be ordered by credit card or check.)
|
|
| sponsorship/exHibition opportunities |
Attention pharmacy service companies, consultants, IT companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, and GPOs! Don't miss out on a great chance to promote your company's services and products to hundreds of pharmacists and other clinicians, hospital executives, federal, state and local government officials, GPO's, wholesalers, drug company decision makers and other leading health care professionals in an intimate and relaxed setting. The exhibit area is designed to ensure a high level of traffic that will enable your company to maximize its marketing
investment. There are many exciting sponsorship/exhibition options as well as opportunities to promote your services on our Web site. More information on becoming a sponsor/exhibitor is available the Sponsors/Exhibitors page. |
|
| Future events |
11th Annual 340B Coalition Conference on Improving Access to
Pharmaceutical Care and Ensuring Compliance with Federal and State Laws
The 11th Annual 340B Coalition Conference will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on July 23-25, 2007. Please note that the date and location of this meeting have changed due to renovations at the Omni Shoreham.
Please check www.340bconferences.org for updates on this conference or sign up for our conference notification list below to be notified when more information is available.
If you would like to be notified of future conference on the 340B program, please join our conference notification mailing list (SNHPA members do not need to complete this form). |
|
| |
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the conference!
|
|
|
