STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a bill to overhaul the 340B program, a new FDA commissioner candidate, and more

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the U.S. Senate health committee, introduced a bill this week aimed at restricting the federal 340B drug discount program, as reported by STAT. The proposed legislation incorporates several restrictions favored by the pharmaceutical industry, including provisions for drugmakers to offer retroactive rebates to hospitals instead of the upfront discounts that hospitals typically prefer. While hospitals could still demand discounts, they would be required to pass these savings directly to patients and implement a sliding-fee scale for prescription drugs. The bill also proposes limitations on the contract pharmacies that hospitals utilize to manage these discounts. Separately, Bloomberg News reports that Dr. Jeff Vacirca, CEO and chairman of New York Cancer & Blood Specialists since 2008, is among the final candidates being considered by the Trump administration for the position of FDA commissioner. Vacirca, who holds a medical degree from St. George's University, is also a co-founder and board member of OneOncology, a network of oncology practices.