HHS Introduces Drug Rebate Pilot Amid Pharma Discount Fight (1)

The HHS Thursday announced a limited pilot program that could shake up how drugmakers provide steeply discounted medicines to certain health-care providers.

The pilot program would require health providers that treat lower-income and uninsured patients under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to purchase select medicines at full price and then submit data to receive a rebate, according to a notice in the Federal Register from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The providers—which include safety-net hospitals and clinics—currently purchase drugs at a steep up-front discount under the program.

The proposal comes amid a string of lawsuits from ...