The Orphan Drug Imbroglio
The controversy over HRSA’s authority emerged late last year, when the agency published a legislative rule that sought to provide coverage for some uses of orphan drugs.
A federal judge has blocked the Health Resources and Services Administration from rolling out a pilot program that would reimburse safety net hospitals that get a discount on drugs through the 340B program via a rebate, as opposed to the status quo of up-front savings. The preliminary injunction was issued on Dec. 29, just a few days before the program was slated to begin on Jan 1.Â
