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ABSTRACT: Importance
Despite controversy surrounding the 340B program, no study has analyzed trends in the proportion of Medicare Part D pharmacy claims eligible for 340B discounts.Objective
To describe trends in the proportion of Medicare Part D claims that are prescribed by 340B-affiliated clinicians and filled in 340B pharmacies.Design and setting
This longitudinal, retrospective cohort study included 2013 to 2020 claims data from a 5% random sample of Medicare Part D beneficiaries from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and 6292 nine-digit national drug codes that were used by at least 1000 Part D beneficiaries in a given year. Data analysis was completed from November 2022 to April 2023.Main outcomes and measures
For each drug and year, there were 3 outcomes: (1) proportion of total Part D claims that were prescribed by a 340B-affiliated clinician; (2) proportion of claims prescribed by a 340B-affiliated clinician that were filled in a 340B pharmacy; and (3) proportion of total Part D claims under the 340B program (ie, prescribed by a 340B-affiliated clinician and filled in a 340B pharmacy).Results
The proportion of prescriptions written by a 340B-affiliated clinician doubled from 9.4% in 2013 to 19.3% in 2020. The capture of 340B prescriptions by 340B pharmacies, defined as the proportion of claims prescribed by 340B-affiliated clinicians that were filled by 340B pharmacies, increased from 18.4% in 2013 to 49.9% in 2020. As a result, the total proportion of 340B claims in Part D increased from 1.7% in 2013 to 9.6% in 2020. Rates of 340B prescribing and capture increased consistently across therapeutic classes. In 2020, the antiviral therapeutic class was the class with the largest proportion of 340B claims (16.1%), followed by targeted antineoplastics (15.7%).Conclusions and relevance
This cohort study demonstrated that from 2013 to 2020, the share of Medicare Part D claims prescribed by a 340B-affiliated clinician increased; however, the rate at which 340B-eligible prescriptions were filled at 340B pharmacies increased at a faster rate, driving the overall increase in 340B claims. Despite these trends, only half of 340B-eligible prescriptions were subject to the 340B discount in 2020.
SUBMITTER: Dickson S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10656642 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
JAMA health forum 20231103 11
<h4>Importance</h4>Despite controversy surrounding the 340B program, no study has analyzed trends in the proportion of Medicare Part D pharmacy claims eligible for 340B discounts.<h4>Objective</h4>To describe trends in the proportion of Medicare Part D claims that are prescribed by 340B-affiliated clinicians and filled in 340B pharmacies.<h4>Design and setting</h4>This longitudinal, retrospective cohort study included 2013 to 2020 claims data from a 5% random sample of Medicare Part D beneficiar ...[more]