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I'm seeing a lot about Biden freezing the Trump EO on insulin so it's thread time:
This seems counterintuitive but this freeze is actually a GOOD thing for patients. The original EO was pharma backed, giving them a way to back out of the #340b program 1/ https://www.modernhealthcare.com/community-health-centers/hhs-freezes-rule-targeting-community-health-centers-drug-discounts
This seems counterintuitive but this freeze is actually a GOOD thing for patients. The original EO was pharma backed, giving them a way to back out of the #340b program 1/ https://www.modernhealthcare.com/community-health-centers/hhs-freezes-rule-targeting-community-health-centers-drug-discounts
The #340b program, is a life-saving program that provides healthcare and medicine to the most vulnerable. 15.5% of #diabetics get their insulin from the program. Since the EO came out, many people have seen their monthly insulin rise from $15-> over $1000 2/
Why? The EO demands that #340b pharmacies pass on their discounts of insulin to the patient. At first note, that sounds great! However, #340b's have a small upcharge to help pay administrative fees, pharmacists, etc... This EO gave pharma a big out for a program that they HATE 3/
If pharmacies didn't comply (which was virtually impossible for them) then pharma got to pull their medications, including insulin. Pharma has also piled on new reporting and audit measures that make it almost impossible to meet due to limited staff, reporting etc... 4/
#340b is still under attack and patients are suffering for it. I don't know for sure but I think the Medicare $35 savings will still stand.
So, moral of the story? Devil is in the details, policy matters, listen to advocates. 5/5
So, moral of the story? Devil is in the details, policy matters, listen to advocates. 5/5
Seems like a good time to plug that @CTinsulin4all has a meeting on this very issue this Thursday at 6 pm ET. @drnallypants will be giving a great overview of the program and we’ll chat how you can get involved on the issue. DM for the details.
***Post-script: I’m seeing some people call the executive order a price cap. The EO had NOTHING to do with actually capping prices for people with diabetes, it would have to touch list price for that to happen. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/28/2020-21358/implementation-of-executive-order-13937-executive-order-on-access-to-affordable-life-saving
