Hospitals in Drug Discount Program See Eligibility Hurdle Return

The end of a pandemic policy that relaxed eligibility requirements for a federal drug discount program threatens millions of dollars in savings for hospitals that participate in the program.

Hospitals that take part in the federal 340B drug pricing program must now register their off-site, outpatient locations, or child sites, with the 340B Office of Pharmacy Affairs in less than 90 days to qualify for discounted drugs—a requirement that was waived in response to the Covid-19 public health emergency that ended in May.

The program, which has been in place since 1992, allows eligible health-care organizations to receive outpatient drugs ...