Rusol Karralli1, Joyce Tipton1, Doina Dumitru1, Lisa Scholz1, Santhi Masilamani2. 1. Rusol Karralli, Pharm.D., M.S., is Manager, 340B Education and Compliance Support, 340B Prime Vendor Program, Apexus, Irving, TX. At the time of writing Dr. Karralli was Postgraduate Year 2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Resident, Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston, TX. Joyce Tipton, B.S.Pharm., M.B.A., FASHP, is Director of Pharmacy and Respiratory Services, Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, Houston. Doina Dumitru, Pharm.D., M.B.A., FASHP, is Director of Pharmacy, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, The Woodlands, TX. Lisa Scholz, Pharm.D., M.B.A., is Chief Operating Officer/Chief Pharmacy Officer, Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access, Washington, DC. Santhi Masilamani, Pharm.D., M.B.A., CDE, is Director, Ambulatory Care Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences, and Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Houston College of Pharmacy. 2. Rusol Karralli, Pharm.D., M.S., is Manager, 340B Education and Compliance Support, 340B Prime Vendor Program, Apexus, Irving, TX. At the time of writing Dr. Karralli was Postgraduate Year 2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Resident, Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston, TX. Joyce Tipton, B.S.Pharm., M.B.A., FASHP, is Director of Pharmacy and Respiratory Services, Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, Houston. Doina Dumitru, Pharm.D., M.B.A., FASHP, is Director of Pharmacy, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, The Woodlands, TX. Lisa Scholz, Pharm.D., M.B.A., is Chief Operating Officer/Chief Pharmacy Officer, Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access, Washington, DC. Santhi Masilamani, Pharm.D., M.B.A., CDE, is Director, Ambulatory Care Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences, and Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Houston College of Pharmacy. kmasilam@central.uh.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: An electronic tool to support hospital organizations in monitoring and addressing financial and compliance challenges related to participation in the 340B Drug Pricing Program is described. SUMMARY: In recent years there has been heightened congressional and regulatory scrutiny of the federal 340B program, which provides discounted drug prices on Medicaid-covered drugs to safety net hospitals and other 340B-eligible healthcare organizations, or "covered entities." Historically, the 340B program has lacked a metrics-driven reporting framework to help covered entities capture the value of 340B program involvement, community benefits provided to underserved populations, and costs associated with compliance with 340B eligibility requirements. As part of an initiative by a large health system to optimize its 340B program utilization and regulatory compliance efforts, a team of pharmacists led the development of an electronic dashboard tool to help monitor 340B program activities at the system's 340B-eligible facilities. After soliciting input from an array of internal and external 340B program stakeholders, the team designed the dashboard and associated data-entry tools to facilitate the capture and analysis of 340B program-related data in four domains: cost savings and revenue, program maintenance costs, community benefits, and compliance. CONCLUSION: A large health system enhanced its ability to evaluate and monitor 340B program-related activities through the use of a dashboard tool capturing key metrics on cost savings achieved, maintenance costs, and other aspects of program involvement.
PURPOSE: An electronic tool to support hospital organizations in monitoring and addressing financial and compliance challenges related to participation in the 340B Drug Pricing Program is described. SUMMARY: In recent years there has been heightened congressional and regulatory scrutiny of the federal 340B program, which provides discounted drug prices on Medicaid-covered drugs to safety net hospitals and other 340B-eligible healthcare organizations, or "covered entities." Historically, the 340B program has lacked a metrics-driven reporting framework to help covered entities capture the value of 340B program involvement, community benefits provided to underserved populations, and costs associated with compliance with 340B eligibility requirements. As part of an initiative by a large health system to optimize its 340B program utilization and regulatory compliance efforts, a team of pharmacists led the development of an electronic dashboard tool to help monitor 340B program activities at the system's 340B-eligible facilities. After soliciting input from an array of internal and external 340B program stakeholders, the team designed the dashboard and associated data-entry tools to facilitate the capture and analysis of 340B program-related data in four domains: cost savings and revenue, program maintenance costs, community benefits, and compliance. CONCLUSION: A large health system enhanced its ability to evaluate and monitor 340B program-related activities through the use of a dashboard tool capturing key metrics on cost savings achieved, maintenance costs, and other aspects of program involvement.