340B Integrity Audit: Is Your Hospital Ready for a HRSA Audit? February 4, 2013

Transcription

1 340B Integrity Audit: Is Your Hospital Ready for a HRSA Audit? February 4,

2 Agenda 340B Program Overview Why HRSA Audits? What will HRSA Audits Cover? Verification of Eligibility: Covered Entity, GPO Exclusion Prevent Diversion: Outpatient Definition Prevent Duplicate Discount: Medicaid Exclusion Contract Pharmacy Compliance Sample Drug Encounters How to Prepare for HRSA Audit Questions/Answers 2

3 340B Overview The 340B drug discount program is a section of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which requires pharmaceutical manufacturers whose drugs are covered by Medicaid to provide discounts on outpatient covered drugs purchased by 340B covered entities Covered entities can receive discounts based on the utilization of pharmaceuticals by covered outpatients. Retrospective procurement is used to realize the discounts based on this utilization The program is administered by the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA). The OPA and drug manufacturers have the right to conduct compliance audits of participating facilities. A clear audit trail must be created to remain in compliance with the regulations of the program The purpose of the 340B program is to enable covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services Estimated savings are 25%-50% of a drug s average wholesale price (AWP) Approximately $6 billion in 340B purchases in

4 Hospital Covered Entities DSH Hospitals - acute care hospitals with a DSH Adjustment Factor greater than 11.75% Children s Hospitals - pediatric hospitals with a 3300-series Medicare provider number that can perform a DSH calculation on worksheet S-3 and show a factor greater than 11.75% Sole Community Hospitals - hospitals with sole community designation with a DSH Adjustment Factor greater than 8.0% on most recently filed Medicare Cost Report Rural Referral Centers - hospitals with Rural Referral Center designation with a DSH Adjustment Factor greater than 8.0% on the most recently filed Medicare Cost Report Critical Access Hospitals - all Critical Access Hospitals, regardless of DSH factor Free Standing Cancer Hospitals - free standing cancer centers with a DSH Adjustment Factor greater than on most recently filed Medicare Cost Report or be eligible under separate indigent care calculation 4

5 Hospital Covered Entities Summary 5

6 Other Covered Entities Federally Qualified Health Centers Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes Black Lung Clinics Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Grantees Native Hawaiian Health Centers Tribal/Urban Indian Health Centers Comprehensive Hemophilia Diagnostic Treatment Centers Title X Family Planning Clinics Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics Tuberculosis Clinics 6

7 Polling Question #1 1. How long have you participated in the 340B Program? a. Less than 1 year b. Between 1-3 years c. Over 3 years d. N/A 7

8 Covered Drugs Program covers only covered entity s outpatient drugs: FDA-approved prescription drug Prescribed OTC drug Biological drugs that can be dispensed only by prescription FDA-approved insulin Excludes vaccines Orphan drug exclusion and proposed regulations Permitting orphan drug purchases on 340B for patients treated for a non-orphan disease (i.e. Remicaide for use with rheumatoid arthritis) Prohibiting orphan drug purchases on 340B for patients treated for the orphan disease (i.e. Remicaide for Chrohn s disease) 8

9 WHY HRSA AUDITS? 9

10 Covered Entity Growth 10

11 Increased Scrutiny Continued Letter to HRSA on July 18, 2012 Letter to SNHPA on March 5,

12 Increased Scrutiny Continued Letter to UAB on May 10, 2012 Letter to UNC Hospital on September 28,

13 HRSA 340B Integrity Audits Nearly 20 years after creation of 340B, HRSA exercising authority to audit covered entities. On February 10, 2012, 340B participants received notice from HRSA that audits would occur HRSA had been under pressure from Congress and federal oversight groups to prove that only those parties eligible for the program s benefits receive them According to HRSA, they will make its audit results public after the agency ensures its methods are consistent and audited entities have an opportunity to respond to the findings Focused compliance problems: Diversion Refers to a covered entity providing drugs bought through the 340B program to people not eligible for the program s prices. Duplicate Discounts These occur when a state obtains Medicaid rebates for a drug that a covered entity bought through the 340B program. Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) prohibition 13

14 340B Integrity Audit Purpose The findings that are derived from these audits will assist HRSA and all 340B stakeholders to provide additional insights into the status of 340B operations and to assess overall compliance with the 340B operations and to assess overall compliance with the 340B program These audits will help HRSA and participating covered entities identify and mitigate program risk as well as identify best practices regarding 340B program compliance Source: HRSA 340B Program Audits/Clarification of HRSA Audits of 340B Covered Entities 14

15 WHAT WILL HRSA AUDIT COVER? 15

16 340B Audits According to Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access, HRSA has already completed 51 audits, most involving hospitals HRSA has planned as many as 400 for audits included covered entities that included hospitals and retail pharmacies The audits will include pharmacy contracts between 340B covered entity and any outside pharmacy 2013 and forward: Easily retrievable data All covered entities audited in the future Regulations will be tightened, not sure when 16

17 Audit Process According to HRSA, the first question asked is, Do you have policies and procedures in place to define who is and who is not a patient? Required standard information in pharmacy data file, such as: Prescriber Patient NDC number Fill date Billing amount Acquisition cost Encounter dates 17

18 HRSA Audit Example Timeline 2/4/13 - from HRSA Director informing Pharmacist in Charge of the audit 2/8/13 - from auditor to make arrangements for on-site visit on 2/28-3/1/13 2/9/13 - with data requests forwarded to Director of Pharmacy and Pharmacist in Charge 2/11/13 - Received site visit agenda from auditor 2/15/13 - Conference call with both auditors to review data requests (request electronic files by 2/18/13) 2/28-3/1/13 - HRSA On site visit 3/15/13 - Exit conference call 18

19 Pre-Audit Covered entities selected for audit receive an engagement letter explaining what to expect and how to appropriately prepare HRSA regional auditors conduct an introductory teleconference with the entity to request and obtain specified documents, including policies, procedures, and internal controls HRSA regional auditors work with the entity to schedule an entrance conference with key entity management to discuss expectations for the onsite audit Source: HRSA 340B Program Audits/Clarification of HRSA Audits of 340B Covered Entities 19

20 Onsite Audit HRSA regional auditors obtain and review select program data and internal controls. Audit procedures include, at a minimum: review of relevant policies and procedures and how they operationalize; Verification of eligibility, including GPO and outpatient clinic eligibility; Verification of internal controls to prevent diversion and duplicate discounts, including appropriateness of inpatient/outpatient designations and Medicaid exclusion file designations; Review of contract pharmacy compliance; and Test 340B drug transaction records on a sample basis. HRSA regional auditors conduct an exit interview, sharing areas of concern and preliminary findings Source: HRSA 340B Program Audits/Clarification of HRSA Audits of 340B Covered Entities 20

21 Post Audit HRSA regional auditors forward preliminary findings to OPA for review OPA reviews the preliminary findings and works directly with the covered entity to obtain any necessary additional information, address any concerns and discuss the appropriate remedy and required corrective action(s), including potential removal from the 340B Program and/or repayment to manufacturers Once an audit report is finalized by OPA, the findings and the entity s response will be summarized on the OPA public website at OPA will pursue further follow up with the entity as needed Source: HRSA 340B Program Audits/Clarification of HRSA Audits of 340B Covered Entities 21

22 Polling Question #2 1. Do you review your 340B policies at least annually? a. Yes b. No c. Not sure d. N/A 22

23 Findings/Penalties As of right now, no penalties, take-backs or findings have been posted by HRSA According to March 5, 2012 program release, findings may be referred to the Office of Inspector General or the U.S. Department of Justice It is still unknown as to when findings will be released 23

24 VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY: COVERED ENTITY 24

25 HRSA Clarification of Hospital Covered Entity Based on 1994 guidance, any outpatient facility which is an integral component of a DSH will be included on the Medicare Cost Report and therefore eligible for 340B pricing Included means: HRSA = As-filed cost report Federal Register language = included on the Medicare cost report Statutory language = hospital and patient of entity 25

26 VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY: EMPLOYED OR CONTRACTED LICENSED PROFESSIONAL 26

27 Employed or Contracted Professional An individual is a patient of a 340B covered entity only if: the covered entity has established a relationship with the individual, such that the covered entity maintains records of the individual's health care; and the individual receives health care services from a health care professional who is either employed by the covered entity or provides health care under contractual or other arrangements (e.g. referral for consultation) such that responsibility for the care provided remains with the covered entity 27

28 VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY: GPO EXCLUSION 28

29 GPO Exclusion Can a 340B hospital that is subject to the group purchasing organization (GPO) prohibition (Disproportionate Share Hospital, Children's Hospitals, Free Standing Cancer Hospitals) continue to purchase items from a GPO that are at a lower cost than 340B pricing? Answer Hospitals that participate in the 340B Program for covered outpatient drugs and are subject to the GPO prohibition cannot purchase any covered outpatient drugs through a group purchasing organization or other group purchasing arrangement This GPO prohibition is found in the 340B statute, at section 340B(a)(4)(L) and applies even if items are available at a lower price through the GPO Hospitals can continue to purchase all products for inpatient operations through a GPO, even if the outpatient departments participate in the 340B Program 29

30 Hospital Covered Entities Summary 30

31 GPO Exclusion 31

32 PREVENT DIVERSION: OUTPATIENT DEFINITION 32

33 Patient Definition Overview 1996 Final guidance of a patient 2007 Proposed revisions to definition July 18, 2012 Members of Congress ask HRSA for further clarification on definition of eligible patient Program isn t limited to Medicare, Medicaid or low income patients Any patient of covered entity may received covered OP drugs purchased under the 340B program Patient must be treated at a facility that is providerbased to the covered entity. All new sites must be enrolled with OPA 33

34 Definition of a Patient An individual is a patient of the 340B covered entity if: The covered entity has established a relationship with the individual, such that the covered entity maintains records of the individual's health care; and The individual receives health care services from a health care professional who is either employed by the covered entity or provides health care under contractual or other arrangements (e.g. referral for consultation) such that responsibility for the care provided remains with the covered entity; and The individual receives a health care service or range of services from the covered entity which is consistent with the service or range of services for which grant funding or Federally-qualified health center look-alike status has been provided to the entity. Disproportionate share hospitals are exempt from this requirement. If all 3 requirements are not met, the person is not eligible for 340B drugs An individual will not be considered a patient of the covered entity if the only health care services received by the individual is the dispensing of a drug or drugs for subsequent self-administration or administration in the home setting 34

35 Polling Question #3 1. Do you routinely self audit to ensure compliance with patient definition? a. Yes b. No c. Not sure d. N/A 35

36 340B Inventory Virtual Inventory Process 36

37 PREVENT DUPLICATE DISCOUNT: MEDICAID EXCLUSION 37

38 Medicaid Billing: Carve in/carve out HRSA guidelines allow covered entities to comply with the statute in different ways: Bill Medicaid at acquisition cost plus the state allowable dispensing fee and the state does not request a rebate ( Carve In ) Carve out Medicaid drugs from 340B program and allow state to collect rebates Follow state guidelines for applicable billing limits Covered entities are responsible for working with their state Medicaid agency to ensure that the agency can identify drugs purchased through the 340B program and avoid obtaining rebates on those drugs 38

39 CONTRACT PHARMACY COMPLIANCE 39

40 Contract Pharmacies No distance or proximity limitation No longer a limit on number of contract pharmacy arrangements Covered entity responsibility to comply, this is important to remember for contract pharmacy arrangements Challenges: Diversion tracking Audits & records Discount Management and tracking Data exchange Inventory management Business terms (payment risk, dispensing fees Advertising/marketing approval 40

41 Contract Pharmacy Audit Requirements All covered entities are required to maintain auditable records Expected to conduct annual audits of contract pharmacies To be performed by an independent outside auditor as a way to fulfill their ongoing obligation of compliance To the extent that any compliance activity or audit performed by a covered entity indicates that there has been a violation of 340B Program requirements, such finding should be disclosed to HRSA along with the covered entity's plan to address the violation 41

42 AUDIT SAMPLE OF DRUG ENCOUNTERS 42

43 Audit Sample Small number of encounters sampled Selected from recent 6 months encounters Prescription Number NDC Product Name Quantity dispensed Date prescription written Date prescription filled Provider name NPI Patient name Medical record number/patient ID number Payer The wholesale price paid (acquisition price) The amount billed for the drug The amount actually paid by the payer and patient 43

44 HOW TO PREPARE FOR HRSA AUDIT 44

45 Audit Tips Conduct mock audits Develop effective policies and procedures Patient eligibility Duplicate discounts Appropriate Medicaid billing Create 340B task force for program oversight Multidisciplinary: Representation from pharmacy, administration, legal and finance Group should meet periodically to review organizations operations against the 340B program standards and opinion letters Keep current on developments/updates Be prepared for 340B integrity audit Risk Assessment HRSA Website

46 How can Arnett Foster Toothman help? Arnett Foster Toothman has assisted multiple clients with 340B mock audits, pharmacy policy and procedure compliance assistance and 340B benefit calculations Conduct a mock HRSA 340B Integrity audit Review of policies and procedures regarding the procurement, inventory, distribution, dispensing, and billing for covered outpatient drugs Documentation of internal controls applicable to the policies and procedures identified above Review of policies and procedures to prevent the resale or transfer of drugs to a person or persons who are not patients of the covered entity Review records of drug procurement and distribution and test whether hospital has obtained a discount only for those programs authorized to receive discounts by section 340B of the PHS Act Arnett Foster Toothman follows HRSA data request and audit protocol in order to mock actual HRSA Integrity Audit This will provide the organization with a corrective plan of action, if necessary, and readiness when the actual HRSA audit occurs 46

47 Q&A Questions? 47

48 Thank You! Brenda Christman, Member Arnett Foster Toothman PLLC 155 E Broad Street, Suite 2100 Columbus, OH brenda.christman@afnetwork.com Brian Bell, Manager Arnett Foster Toothman PLLC 155 E Broad Street, Suite 2100 Columbus, OH brian.bell@afnetwork.com 48