With passage of historic health care reform legislation and final adoption of the government’s new contract pharmacy guidelines, 340B drug discount program participants need to be prepared for the most dramatic changes to this critical drug discount program since it was created almost two decades ago.  This comes at a time when the debate over expanding 340B to the inpatient setting is heating up once again.

Health reform includes major changes that will impact all 340B stakeholders including covered entities, the pharmaceutical industry, and federal and state governments.  These changes include a number of new compliance requirements that will impact every 340B participant, an expansion of the program to new entities, and changes in how 340B prices are calculated and verified for accuracy.

Health reform also means major changes to the Medicare Part D program as well as pharmaceutical manufacturer patient assistance programs.   At the same time, the government has just published guidelines that will allow covered entities to significantly expand the reach of the 340B program through the use of multiple contract pharmacies.   This expansion comes with significant new monitoring responsibilities and obligations. Coupled with the recent addition of children’s hospitals to the 340B program, 340B is experiencing a major transformation.  All of this comes as the 340B program is about to experience new leadership as HRSA selects a new Director of the Office of Pharmacy Affairs for the first time in over 10 years.

Our 14th Annual 340B Coalition Conference, co-hosted by Apexus, is the premier venue to examine how 340B stakeholders can prepare themselves for this new environment.  It is also the place to find out the next steps that 340B advocates and detractors will be taking to reform the program.

While this year’s conference will focus on the major changes to 340B, there will be also be an increased emphasis on providing you with hands on, practical advice to help you implement the 340B program.  If you are a health care provider or other covered entity, you will learn innovative strategies to reduce costs and improve care.  If you work for a pharmaceutical company or other pharmacy related business, you will learn how to comply with a host of new regulations and have an opportunity to network directly with your customers.  This year, there will be opportunities to participate in small tutorials to get the advice you need and to share ideas with others.  In addition, for the first time, we will be hosting a breakout session exclusively for retail pharmacies and other industries looking to contract or expand contracts with 340B covered entities.

• Pharmacists and clinic directors at institutions providing care to low-income and uninsured populations
• Pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, GPOs, and pharmacy service industries
• Retail pharmacies, chain pharmacies, and other industries that contract with 340B entities
• State Medicaid Program Directors and Pharmacy Directors, and Drug Assistance Program Managers
• Part D plans, PBMs, and other insurance companies
• Consultants, attorneys, and other compliance experts
• Federal, state, and local policy makers and government relations directors
• AIDS Drug Assistant Program (ADAP) officials and AIDS service organizations
• Other providers of health care for the uninsured and vulnerable populations