The House Energy and Commerce Committee today announced a hearing before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee for Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at 10 a.m.
This should be a great hearing to listen to. Congress has finally asked the right group of people to testify. Covered Entities will finally be able to tell the committee how they use program savings to expand services to our neediest population. After reading the data request letters that committee leaders sent to Covered Entities, I feel like the questions that will be asked and answered are well thought and should get to the heart of any negative speculation around the program.
I didn't feel like the answers provided at the last hearing were meaningful enough and painted the full picture of how important the 340B program is to the hospitals and clinics that participate in it. I hope the committee will get to hear why the number of child sites is on the rise (after HRSA made it a requirement to register all separate departments/services at an address). Entities will share how they use their savings to improve and expand healthcare to needy populations. Overall, I think the committee members will come away satisfied after this hearing.
Be sure watch live next Wednesday. The Majority Memorandum, witness list, and witness testimony for the hearing will be available here as they are posted.