Court decision protects patient care 340B hospitals

The Dec. 27 federal court injunction stopping further cuts in 340B reimbursements for Medicare Part B drugs to some participating hospitals is a critical step in preserving the role that academic health centers play in providing HIV, viral hepatitis, and other infectious disease treatment and prevention services to patients who otherwise lack care options.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America and HIV Medicine Association have opposed the 340B payment decreases proposed for 2019, and those that were imposed in 2018. In addition to supporting infectious diseases prevention and treatment services, safety-net hospitals use savings from the program to fund frontline services critical to confronting the opioid and HIV epidemics, including substance use treatment, transitional housing, and other support services.

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