What’s happening: A bipartisan group of U.S. representatives is leading a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra about efforts by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to undermine the 340B Drug Discount Program.
What else to know: The deadline for signatures is expected to be extended but since the House could go out of session at any time, it’s urgent to ask your representative to sign now.
Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Rob Wittman (R-VA) are leading the letter to HHS Secretary Becerra expressing concern about J&J’s efforts to transition two 340B drugs, STELARA and XARELTO, from direct discounts to a rebate model for disproportionate share hospitals. The letter urges the department to take action to prevent this model from taking effect. On Sept. 19, the Health Resources & Services Administration sent a letter to J&J warning that their rebate proposal violates obligations under the 340B statute and that the agency expects J&J to cease implementation immediately. However, J&J has until Sept. 30 to respond; additional pressure is needed to ensure patients’ access to critical drugs is protected.
Hospital leaders should call or email their U.S. representative and urge them to sign on to the letter. Find your representative’s contact information on CHA’s Federal Legislative Tracker. The letter currently has 47 signatures, including Reps. Matsui (D-CA-7), Bera (D-CA-6), Harder (D-CA-9), DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Lee (D-CA-12), Khanna (D-CA-17), Panetta (D-CA-19), and Waters (D-CA-43).
- House Democrats should email Lucy Schwartz (lucy.schwartz@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Spanberger’s (D-VA) office.
- House Republicans should email Sydney Powers (sydney.powers@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Johnson’s (R-SD) office.
