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The impact of the 340B Drug Pricing Program on Critical Access Hospitals: Evidence from Medicare Part B

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  • Han, Dan

Abstract

I study the impact of expanding the 340B Drug Pricing Program to include Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) on Medicare Part B drug utilization and spending. The 340B program entitles certain hospitals and clinics to discounts on most outpatient drugs. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act expanded 340B eligibility to CAHs — small rural hospitals that receive cost-based reimbursement from Medicare. Exploiting variation in the predicted exposure to the 340B expansion in a difference-in-differences method, I find that the 340B expansion reduced Part B drug spending but did not affect Part B drug utilization. This finding contrasts with existing evidence about 340B’s impact on hospitals but is consistent with the prediction that cost-based reimbursement dampens the incentives created by the 340B discounts. I also find suggestive evidence that CAHs passed the cost savings from 340B on to patients. These results add new perspectives to the ongoing debate over 340B.

Suggested Citation

  • Han, Dan, 2023. "The impact of the 340B Drug Pricing Program on Critical Access Hospitals: Evidence from Medicare Part B," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:89:y:2023:i:c:s0167629623000310
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102754
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    340B; Drug Pricing; Critical Access Hospitals; Cost-based reimbursement; Medicare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health

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