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Senate committee advances bill to protect 340B discounts for Arkansas hospitals and clinics
Summary
The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee voted to pass House Bill 1881, which sponsors say preserves federal 340B discounts for participating hospitals and community clinics and prevents manufacturers or PBMs from blocking local pharmacies. Industry witnesses disputed the state’s authority and warned of federal preemption and ongoing litigation.
The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee on voice votes approved House Bill 1881, a bill sponsors say would protect the federal 340B drug-pricing program for hospitals and certain clinics operating in underserved areas.
Representative Michelle Gray (District 62), the sponsor, told the committee HB1881 would prevent manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from reducing reimbursement or blocking hospitals and clinics that participate in 340B from partnering with local pharmacies to serve patients. "If you participate in the 340B program, that's something you signed up for federally," Gray said. "All I'm saying is once you've signed up, you can't discriminate and…
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