Senate Commerce committee advances bill requiring state reporting on 340B drug discounts

The Idaho Senate Commerce Committee voted to send House Bill 136 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation after a hearing that centered on transparency in the federal 340B drug-pricing program.

The bill would require 340B covered entities doing business in Idaho to report acquisition costs, payments received for 340B drugs and how any savings are used to the Idaho attorney general, the state controller and the Department of Health and Welfare. Proponents said the measure would give state officials data needed to assess whether hospitals and contract pharmacies are passing savings to patients or retaining revenue.

"This bill enhances transparency and accountability in this program," said Senator Carl Bjerke, the Senate sponsor, describing 340B as a federal program that allows certain hospitals to buy outpatient drugs at discounts and saying the state currently lacks visibility into how savings are spent. Bjerke cited a North Carolina State Treasury report alleging some 340B hospitals charged state health plans multiple times the discounted acquisition cost for…