Inside 340B Report (340B Report)

Episode 1: Introducing the Inside 340B Report Editorial Team

Welcome to the very first episode of the Inside 340B Report podcast! In this debut episode, host Ted Slafsky, publisher and CEO of 340B Report, introduces listeners to the dynamic editorial team behind the show, Shannon Young, Will Newton, and Bella Czajkowski, as they share their backgrounds, experiences, and what drives their passion for the 340B Drug Discount Program.

Meet the Team

• Ted Slafsky kicks off the episode by sharing his extensive background in journalism and advocacy. From his early days at U.S. News and World Report to his longtime  leadership role in 340B advocacy, Ted’s journey has been marked by a deep commitment to informing and advocating for crucial health care access issues. His role at 340B Report represents the culmination of years of experience in both journalism and public policy.

• Shannon Young joins the conversation from the Berkshires, Massachusetts. With a background in state house reporting and stints at Politico and Morning Brew, Shannon brings a wealth of experience in healthcare policy. She discusses her journey from high school newspaper editor to covering complex state and federal healthcare issues, including her personal connection to the pharmacy industry through her father.

• Will Newton reflects on his path from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, DC, where he now serves as an Associate Editor. A Williams College graduate, his prior work in New York City focused on pharmaceutical industry reporting and FDA regulations. Will shares his insights into the complexities of drug pricing and the safety net healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of transparency and understanding in this evolving field.

• Bella Czajkowski, a Columbia Journalism School graduate and former editor in chief of the Ohio State University newspaper, shares her background from growing up in the Midwest to her recent work on the podcast “An Arm and a Leg,” which focuses on healthcare costs. Bella’s passion for healthcare policy and investigative reporting shines through as she discusses the intricacies of the 340B program and her excitement about diving into this new role.

What’s Next for Inside 340B Report

In future episodes, the team will provide an inside look at the topics and issues impacting the stakeholders in the 340B drug discount program.  Listen to fascinating conversations between 340B Report editors and reporters on what they are covering and why it is important. 

Stay tuned for more episodes bimonthly! 🎧 Subscribe to Inside 340B Report on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on YouTube for video discussions.

Special thanks to 340B Report Ultra Diamond sponsors who made this episode possible including: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The Alinea Group, Avita Care Solutions, Maxor, RxParadigm, RxStrategies and Verity Solutions.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to bringing you valuable insights and discussions on the 340B program. For more information, visit 340BReport.com.

Special discount for YouTube and podcast listeners

340B Report is the indispensable source for news and intelligence on the 340B program. First-time subscribers may Subscribe now using coupon code: PODCAST25.  Not ready to subscribe, sign up for a 15-day free trial.

Episode 3: The 340B Rebate Saga: Fallout and Potential Litigation

Shannon Young, Will Newton and Bella Czajkowski, explore the biggest developments in the 340B program, focusing on the latest surrounding Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) rebate proposal, including the potential for litigation. They also recap key discussions from a recent healthcare summit in New York City and offer a preview of what they’ll be keeping their eyes on ahead of the upcoming November elections.

Key Topics Covered

• 340B Report Correspondent Bella Czajkowski attended the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care Summit in New York, where she heard from influential voices on the future of healthcare policy, including 340B. Among the most notable speakers was Joe Grogan, a former Trump administration official, who called for reform to the 340B program—potentially including a rebate model instead of upfront discounts. He cited concerns with possible diversion and the risk of duplicate discounts. Grogan also forecasted the future of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

• The team discusses 340B stakeholders’ reactions to J&J’s proposed 340B rebate model. The drugmaker has abandoned course following HRSA pushback, but as Bella points out, some stakeholders say litigation may be on the horizon. Shannon highlights a recent op-ed from Maureen Testoni, in which the president and CEO of 340B Health warned covered entities to stay alert on the issue. And she notes how drug industry trade groups have continued to push for a rebate system.

• Will discusses how the IRA’s Medicare drug price negotiations could interact with the 340B program, including potentially reducing 340B savings. He emphasizes how inaction from federal regulators on the overlap between 340B and the IRA has created looming uncertainty for providers and manufacturers navigating the two drug pricing programs.

• As the election season heats up, Shannon, Will and Bella preview what they expect to see when it comes to 340B-related lobbying efforts, and how the program could become a household name as it draws more attention at the state and national levels. 

What’s Next for Inside 340B Report

In future episodes, the team will provide an inside look at the topics and issues impacting the stakeholders in the 340B drug discount program. Listen to fascinating conversations between 340B Report editors and reporters on what they are covering and why it is important. 

Stay tuned for more episodes biweekly! 🎧 Subscribe to Inside 340B Report on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on YouTube for video discussions.

Special thanks to 340B Report Ultra Diamond sponsors who made this episode possible including: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The Alinea Group, Avita Care Solutions, Maxor, RxParadigm, RxStrategies and Verity Solutions.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to bringing you valuable insights and discussions on the 340B program. For more information, visit 340BReport.com.

Special discount for YouTube and podcast listeners who are first-time subscribers. 340B Report is the indispensable source for news and intelligence on the 340B program. First-time subscribers may subscribe now using coupon code: PODCAST25. Not ready to subscribe? Sign up for a 15-day free trial.

Inside 340B Report is your exclusive, behind-the-scenes window into the latest news and developments in the 340B drug pricing program, straight from the journalists at 340B Report. Each episode, published twice a month, brings listeners inside 340B Report’s newsroom for a candid, insider’s perspective on the evolving drug pricing policy landscape from the journalists who cover it daily.

Join Ted Slafsky, Shannon Young, Will Newton and Bella Czajkowski for another episode of Inside 340B Report. This week, the team unpacks the latest developments shaping the 340B landscape, from the announcement by drug manufacturers of new rebate models they hope to implement to expanding contract pharmacy restrictions. They also discuss how the incoming Republican-controlled Congress and White House could impact the 340B program.

Key Topics Covered

• 340B Rebate Models and Legal Battles
  Will dives into the uptick in 340B rebate proposals from Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi. Learn how these proposals, if implemented, could shift regulatory authority away from the government and into the hands of manufacturers, and potentially decrease provider savings.

• Contract Pharmacy Restrictions on Health Centers
  Bella sheds light on the growing number of drug manufacturers that have expanded contract pharmacy restrictions beyond hospitals to community health centers. She shares provider accounts of how these restrictions are straining services, leading to layoffs and impacting rural and underserved communities. Bella also discusses a new tool available only for 340B Report subscribers that tracks each manufacturer’s restrictions.

• Post-Election Landscape for 340B
  Shannon shares insights from a recent 340B Report subscriber-only webinar on the 2024 elections and their implications for 340B policy. With a new Republican trifecta in Washington—and Republican President-elect Donald Trump filling out his healthcare cabinet— she and the team analyze how the leadership changes could affect federal policymaking. And with a historically narrow GOP margin in the U.S. House, it could be a boon for bipartisan-backed 340B bills, like the SUSTAIN 340B Act.

What’s Next for Inside 340B Report

In future episodes, the team will provide an inside look at the issues impacting the stakeholders in the 340B drug discount program. Listen to fascinating conversations between 340B Report editors and reporters on what they are covering and why it is important. 

Stay tuned for more episodes biweekly! 🎧 Subscribe to Inside 340B Report on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on YouTube for video discussions.

Special thanks to 340B Report Ultra Diamond sponsors who made this episode possible including: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The Alinea Group, Avita Care Solutions, Maxor, RxParadigm, RxStrategies and Verity Solutions.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to bringing you valuable insights and discussions on the 340B program. For more information, visit 340BReport.com.

Special discount for YouTube and podcast listeners. 340B Report is the indispensable source for news and intelligence on the 340B program. First-time subscribers may subscribe now using coupon code PODCAST25. Not ready to subscribe? Sign up for a 15-day free trial.

Ted Slafsky joins Shannon Young, Will Newton and Bella Czajkowski to analyze the 2024 election’s potential impact on the 340B landscape, including how President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the new GOP-controlled Congress could approach the drug pricing program.The team also discusses Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) recent lawsuit against the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing 340B rebate model debate.

Key Topics Covered

• Election Results and 340B Policy Implications
  The team unpacks the election results, including Trump’s decisive win and the new GOP leadership in Congress. They discuss how this shift could influence 340B policy, noting that the previous Trump administration posed several challenges to 340B providers. Will and Shannon share insights on expected policy changes and what roles key Senate and House lawmakers could play when it comes to crafting future 340B-related legislation.

• J&J’s Legal Battle Over the Rebate Model
  Will breaks down J&J’s lawsuit against HRSA over its  proposed 340B rebate model, explaining how it could potentially reshape the 340B program. Despite bipartisan resistance to rebates, J&J may be betting on a more drug industry-friendly new administration that could lead to a shift in HRSA’s longstanding position on upfront discounts.

• Spotlight on Key Players
  With Senate Republicans selecting U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) as the next majority leader, the team examines how he could help elevate 340B policy in the upper chamber and potentially moderate critiques from vocal 340B opponents like U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who will take over the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Cassidy is expected to bring more aggressive oversight to the 340B program.  Thune’s historic support of 340B could act as a counterbalance.

What’s Next for Inside 340B Report

In future episodes, the team will provide an inside look at the issues impacting the stakeholders in the 340B drug discount program. Listen to fascinating conversations between 340B Report editors and reporters on what they are covering and why it is important. 

Stay tuned for more episodes biweekly! 🎧 Subscribe to Inside 340B Report on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on YouTube for video discussions.

Special thanks to 340B Report Ultra Diamond sponsors who made this episode possible including: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The Alinea Group, Avita Care Solutions, Maxor, RxParadigm, RxStrategies and Verity Solutions.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to bringing you valuable insights and discussions on the 340B program. For more information, visit 340BReport.com.

In episode 2, host Ted Slafsky, along with Will Newton and Bella Czajkowski, recap major news impacting the 340B program, including the future of manufacturer efforts to convert 340B to a rebate, Sen. Bill Cassidy’s latest inquiry into two drugmakers, pushback from bipartisan House members to the rebate proposal federal 340B legislation and key state developments. 

Key Topics Covered

• Johnson & Johnson recently dropped its 340B rebate proposal amid strong enforcement threats from the federal government, but manufacturer efforts to convert the 340B program to a rebate model are likely to continue. The crew discusses the implications of the government’s response to J&J’s proposal and what it means for other manufacturer efforts to pursue 340B rebate models. They also explain how 340B rebates may arise in response to an inquiry from influential Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who has often been critical of 340B program growth. 

• Key lawmakers with a more favorable view of the 340B program have also been engaged in a flurry of legislative and policy making activity. The crew shares insights into a bipartisan House letter opposing 340B rebates and the status of a Senate bill to restore 340B discounts to contract pharmacies. They also touch on the implications of a children’s Medicaid enrollment bill with 340B provisions and two major updates on state-level battles over contract pharmacy access laws. 

What’s Next for Inside 340B Report

In future episodes, the team will provide an inside look at the topics and issues impacting the stakeholders in the 340B drug discount program.  Listen to fascinating conversations between 340B Report editors and reporters on what they are covering and why it is important. 

Stay tuned for more episodes biweekly! 🎧 Subscribe to Inside 340B Report on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on YouTube for video discussions.

Special thanks to 340B Report Ultra Diamond sponsors who made this episode possible including: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The Alinea Group, Avita Care Solutions, Maxor, RxParadigm, RxStrategies and Verity Solutions.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to bringing you valuable insights and discussions on the 340B program. For more information, visit 340BReport.com.

Special discount for YouTube and podcast listeners.  340B Report is the indispensable source for news and intelligence on the 340B program. First-time subscribers may subscribe now using coupon code: PODCAST25.  Not ready to subscribe? Sign up for a 15-day free trial.

Will Newton hosted this week’s episode, leading a discussion with Shannon Young and Bella Czajkowski. Ted Slafsky was away for this edition, but we look forward to welcoming him back next time. In this new episode, the editorial team explores emerging trends in drugmaker contract pharmacy restrictions, legal developments around 340B eligibility calculations and manufacturer audits of covered entities, and how the upcoming congressional and presidential elections could shift the program's future. 

Key Topics Covered

• Emerging Trends in Contract Pharmacy Restrictions
  Bella overviews recent drugmaker moves to restrict contract pharmacy access beyond hospitals, sharing a recent report of an Ohio health center that had to lay off staff due to revenue loss from such restrictions. Shannon and Will add insights into how these moves by manufacturers impact covered entities, increasingly affecting access for both hospitals and health centers.

• Key Developments in 340B Lawsuits
  The team updates listeners on pivotal court cases that could reshape the program. Shannon covers a ruling favoring Texas hospitals in a suit against HHS, centered on the Inpatient Prospective Payment Services rule, which affects certain hospitals’ 340B eligibility. Will adds an overview of lawsuits challenging the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) approvals for Johnson & Johnson’s audits of 340B-covered entities, examining allegations that HRSA may have acted unlawfully. The team discusses the broader implications these cases may have on 340B.

• Potential Impact of Upcoming Elections
  As election season heats up, the team examines how winners of the 2024 congressional and presidential races could influence 340B policy. They also overview how state-level races will play a role in legislative priorities over the coming term. 

What’s Next for Inside 340B Report

In future episodes, the team will provide an inside look at the issues impacting the stakeholders in the 340B drug discount program. Listen to fascinating conversations between 340B Report editors and reporters on what they are covering and why it is important. 

Stay tuned for more episodes biweekly! 🎧 Subscribe to Inside 340B Report on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on YouTube for video discussions.

Special thanks to 340B Report Ultra Diamond sponsors who made this episode possible including: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, The Alinea Group, Avita Care Solutions, Maxor, RxParadigm, RxStrategies and Verity Solutions.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We look forward to bringing you valuable insights and discussions on the 340B program. For more information, visit 340BReport.com.

Special discount for YouTube and podcast listeners. 340B Report is the indispensable source for news and intelligence on the 340B program. First-time subscribers may subscribe now using coupon code PODCAST25. Not ready to subscribe? Sign up for a 15-day free trial.