340B Court Decision Threatens To Expand Patient Eligibility; Can Pharmacy Restrictions Counter Program Growth?

A long-awaited federal court decision rejected efforts by the Health Resources and Services Administration to set limits around a 340B health care provider’s definition of patient eligibility for drugs with 340B discounts. The ruling could drive increased volume in the 340B program. But it could also encourage more manufacturer restrictions on discounts to contract pharmacies, some experts suggest.

A US District Court in South Carolina ruled on 3 November that the interpretation of who qualifies as a patient under the 340B program that HRSA sought to enforce against...