82_FR_39713 82 FR 39553 - 340B Drug Pricing Program Ceiling Price and Manufacturer Civil Monetary Penalties Regulation

82 FR 39553 - 340B Drug Pricing Program Ceiling Price and Manufacturer Civil Monetary Penalties Regulation

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 160 (August 21, 2017)

Page Range39553-39555
FR Document2017-17633

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers section 340B of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), which is referred to as the ``340B Drug Pricing Program'' or the ``340B Program.'' HHS is soliciting comments on delaying the effective date of the January 5, 2017 final rule that sets forth the calculation of the ceiling price and application of civil monetary penalties, and applies to all drug manufacturers that are required to make their drugs available to covered entities under the 340B Program. HHS proposes to delay the effective date of the final rule published in the Federal Register (82 FR 1210, January 5, 2017) to July 1, 2018. HHS proposes this action in order to allow a more deliberate process of considering alternative and supplemental regulatory provisions and to allow for sufficient time for additional rulemaking, as set forth below.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 160 (Monday, August 21, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39553-39555]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17633]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

42 CFR Part 10

RIN 0906-AB11


340B Drug Pricing Program Ceiling Price and Manufacturer Civil 
Monetary Penalties Regulation

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; further delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

[[Page 39554]]

administers section 340B of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), which 
is referred to as the ``340B Drug Pricing Program'' or the ``340B 
Program.'' HHS is soliciting comments on delaying the effective date of 
the January 5, 2017 final rule that sets forth the calculation of the 
ceiling price and application of civil monetary penalties, and applies 
to all drug manufacturers that are required to make their drugs 
available to covered entities under the 340B Program. HHS proposes to 
delay the effective date of the final rule published in the Federal 
Register (82 FR 1210, January 5, 2017) to July 1, 2018. HHS proposes 
this action in order to allow a more deliberate process of considering 
alternative and supplemental regulatory provisions and to allow for 
sufficient time for additional rulemaking, as set forth below.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 20, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the Regulatory 
Information Number (RIN) 0906-AB11, by any of the following methods. 
Please submit your comments in only one of these ways to minimize the 
receipt of duplicate submissions.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow instructions for submitting comments. This is the preferred 
method for the submission of comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include 0906-AB11 in the 
subject line of the message.
     Mail: Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA), Healthcare Systems 
Bureau (HSB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 5600 
Fishers Lane, Mail Stop 08W05A, Rockville, MD 20857.
    All submitted comments will be available to the public in their 
entirety. Please do not submit confidential commercial information or 
personal identifying information that you do not want in the public 
domain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CAPT Krista Pedley, Director, OPA, 
HSB, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop 08W05A, Rockville, MD 20857, or 
by telephone at 301-594-4353.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On September 30, 2010, HHS published an advanced notice of proposed 
rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register, ``340B Drug Pricing Program 
Manufacturer Civil Monetary Penalties'' (75 FR 57230, September 20, 
2010). HHS subsequently published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) on June 17, 2015 to implement CMPs for manufacturers who 
knowingly and intentionally charge a covered entity more than the 
ceiling price for a covered outpatient drug; to provide clarity 
regarding the requirement that manufacturers calculate the 340B ceiling 
price on a quarterly basis; and to establish the requirement that a 
manufacturer charge $.01 (penny pricing) for each unit of a drug when 
the ceiling price calculation equals zero (80 FR 34583, June 17, 2015). 
The public comment period closed on August 17, 2015, and HRSA received 
35 comments. After review of the initial comments, HHS reopened the 
comment period (81 FR 22960, April 19, 2016) to invite additional 
comments on the following areas of the NPRM: 340B ceiling price 
calculations that result in a ceiling price that equals zero (penny 
pricing); the methodology that manufacturers use when estimating the 
ceiling price for a new covered outpatient drug; and the definition of 
the ``knowing and intentional'' standard to be applied when assessing a 
CMP for manufacturers that overcharge a covered entity. The comment 
period closed May 19, 2016, and HHS received 72 comments.
    On January 5, 2017, HHS published a final rule in the Federal 
Register (82 FR 1210, January 5, 2017); comments from both the original 
comment period established in the NPRM and the reopened comment period 
announced in the April 19, 2016 notice were considered in the 
development of the final rule. The provisions of that final rule were 
to be effective March 6, 2017; however, HHS issued a subsequent final 
rule (82 FR 12508, March 6, 2017) delaying the effective date to March 
21, 2017, in accordance with a January 20, 2017 memorandum from the 
Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, titled ``Regulatory 
Freeze Pending Review.'' \1\ In the January 5, 2017 final rule, HHS 
acknowledged that the effective date fell during the middle of a 
quarter and stakeholders needed time to adjust systems and update their 
policies and procedures. As such, HHS stated that it intended to 
enforce the requirements of the final rule at the start of the next 
quarter, which began April 1, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/20/memorandum-heads-executive-departments-and-agencies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After further consideration and to provide affected parties 
sufficient time to make needed changes to facilitate compliance, and 
because questions were raised, HHS issued an interim final rule (82 FR 
14332, March 20, 2017), to delay the effective date of the final rule 
to May 22, 2017, and solicited additional comments on whether that date 
should be further extended to October 1, 2017. HHS received several 
comments to the interim final rule, some supporting and some opposing 
the delay of the effective date to May 22, 2017, or alternatively to 
October 1, 2017. After careful consideration of the comments received, 
HHS delayed the effective date of the January 5, 2017 final rule to 
October 1, 2017 (82 FR 22893, May 19, 2017).

II. Proposal To Delay the Effective Date of the Final Rule

    HHS proposes to further delay the effective date of the January 5, 
2017 final rule because it continues to examine important substantive 
issues in matters covered by the rule. HHS intends to engage in 
additional rulemaking on these issues. HHS believes that the proposed 
delay will allow for necessary time to more fully consider the 
substantial questions of fact, law and policy raised by the rule, 
consistent with the aforementioned ``Regulatory Freeze Pending 
Review,'' memorandum. Requiring manufacturers to make targeted and 
potentially costly changes to pricing systems and business procedures 
in order to comply with a rule that is under further consideration and 
for which substantive questions have been raised would be disruptive. 
We also believe additional time is needed to more fully consider 
previous objections regarding the timing of the effective date and 
challenges associated with complying with the rule, as well as other 
objections to the rule.
    In addition, the January 20, 2017, Executive Order entitled, 
``Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal,'' specifically instructs HHS and 
all other heads of executive offices to utilize all authority and 
discretion available to delay the implementation of certain provisions 
or requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.\2\ 
The January 5, 2017 final rule is based on changes made to the 340B 
Program by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. HHS is 
proposing to delay the effective date of the January 5, 2017 final rule 
to July 1, 2018, to also allow for a sufficient amount of time to more 
fully consider the regulatory burdens that may be posed by this final 
rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/2/executive-order-minimizing-economic-burden-patient-protection-and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At this time, HHS seeks public comments regarding the impact of 
delaying the effective date of the final rule, published January 5, 
2017, for an additional nine months from the current

[[Page 39555]]

effective date of October 1, 2017 to July 1, 2018, while a more 
deliberate rulemaking process is considered. HHS encourages all 
stakeholders to provide comments on this proposed rule.

III. Regulatory Impact Analysis

    HHS has examined the effects of this proposed rule as required by 
Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review (September 30, 
1993), Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review (January 8, 2011), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96-
354, September 19, 1980), the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-4), and Executive Order 13132 on Federalism (August 4, 
1999).

Executive Orders 12866, 13563 and 13771

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 is supplemental to and reaffirms the principles, 
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review as established 
in Executive Order 12866, emphasizing the importance of quantifying 
both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and 
of promoting flexibility. Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 defines 
a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action that is likely to 
result in a rule: (1) Having an annual effect on the economy of $100 
million or more in any 1 year, or adversely and materially affecting a 
sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the 
environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or Tribal 
governments or communities (also referred to as ``economically 
significant''); (2) creating a serious inconsistency or otherwise 
interfering with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) 
materially altering the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants, user 
fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or (4) raising novel legal or policy issues arising out of 
legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth 
in the Executive Order. A regulatory impact analysis (RIA) must be 
prepared for major rules with economically significant effects ($100 
million or more in any 1 year), and a ``significant'' regulatory action 
is subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
    HHS does not believe that the proposal to delay the effective date 
of the January 5, 2017, final rule will have an economic impact of $100 
million or more, and is therefore not designated as an ``economically 
significant'' proposed rule under section 3(f)(1) of the Executive 
Order 12866. Therefore, the economic impact of having no rule in place 
related to the policies addressed in the final rule is believed to be 
minimal, as the policies would not yet be required or enforceable.
    Executive Order 13771, entitled Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs, was issued on January 30, 2017. This proposed rule is 
not expected to be an EO 13771 regulatory action because this proposed 
rule is not significant under EO 12866.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) (RFA) and the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996, which 
amended the RFA, require HHS to analyze options for regulatory relief 
of small businesses. If a rule has a significant economic effect on a 
substantial number of small entities, the Secretary must specifically 
consider the economic effect of the rule on small entities and analyze 
regulatory options that could lessen the impact of the rule. HHS will 
use an RFA threshold of at least a 3 percent impact on at least 5 
percent of small entities.
    For purposes of the RFA, HHS considers all health care providers to 
be small entities either by meeting the Small Business Administration 
(SBA) size standard for a small business, or by being a nonprofit 
organization that is not dominant in its market. The current SBA size 
standard for health care providers ranges from annual receipts of $7 
million to $35.5 million. As of January 1, 2017, over 12,000 covered 
entities participate in the 340B Program, which represent safety-net 
health care providers across the country. HHS has determined, and the 
Secretary certifies, that this proposed rule will not have a 
significant impact on the operations of a substantial number of small 
manufacturers; therefore, we are not preparing an analysis of impact 
for this RFA. HHS estimates that the economic impact on small entities 
and small manufacturers will be minimal. HHS welcomes comments 
concerning the impact of this proposed rule on small manufacturers and 
small health care providers.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires 
that agencies prepare a written statement, which includes an assessment 
of anticipated costs and benefits, before proposing ``any rule that 
includes any Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by 
State, local, and Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for 
inflation) in any one year.'' In 2013, that threshold level was 
approximately $141 million. HHS does not expect this rule to exceed the 
threshold.

Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    HHS has reviewed this proposed rule in accordance with Executive 
Order 13132 regarding federalism, and has determined that it does not 
have ``federalism implications.'' This proposed rule would not ``have 
substantial direct effects on the States, or on the relationship 
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.''

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires 
that OMB approve all collections of information by a federal agency 
from the public before they can be implemented. This proposed rule is 
projected to have no impact on current reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for manufacturers under the 340B Program. This proposed rule 
would result in no new reporting burdens. Comments are welcome on the 
accuracy of this statement.

George Sigounas,
Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration.
    Approved: August 16, 2017.
Thomas E. Price,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-17633 Filed 8-17-17; 11:15 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P



                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 160 / Monday, August 21, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                  39553

                                                      Evaluation process was codified in EPA                     • The availability and effectiveness of               In addition, EPA seeks comment on
                                                      regulation for greenhouse gas emission                  technology, and the appropriate lead                   the use of alternative methodologies and
                                                      standards for model years 2017–2025                     time for introduction of technology;                   modeling systems to assess both
                                                      light-duty vehicles, which requires EPA                    • The cost on the producers or                      analytical inputs and the standards,
                                                      to determine no later than April 1, 2018,               purchasers of new motor vehicles or                    including but not limited to the
                                                      whether the standards for model years                   new motor vehicle engines;                             Department of Energy’s (DOE’s)
                                                      2022–2025 are appropriate.3 In                             • The feasibility and practicability of             Argonne National Laboratory’s
                                                      November 2016, EPA issued a proposed                    the standards;                                         Autonomie full vehicle simulation tool
                                                      determination for the Mid-Term                             • The impact of the standards on                    and DOT’s CAFE Compliance and
                                                      Evaluation.4 On January 12, 2017, the                   reduction of emissions, oil conservation,              Effects Model.
                                                      EPA Administrator signed the Final                      energy security, and fuel savings by                     In accord with the schedule set forth
                                                      Determination of the Mid-Term                           consumers;                                             in its regulations, the EPA intends to
                                                      Evaluation.                                                • The impact of the standards on the                make a Final Determination regarding
                                                                                                              automobile industry;                                   the appropriateness of the model year
                                                         Some stakeholders previously                            • The impacts of the standards on                   2022–2025 greenhouse gas standards,
                                                      commented that they were preparing                      automobile safety;                                     and potentially the model year 2021
                                                      studies to inform the Mid-term                             • The impact of the greenhouse gas                  greenhouse gas standard, no later than
                                                      Evaluation that were not ready for                      emission standards on the Corporate                    April 1, 2018.
                                                      submission during the previous Mid-                     Average Fuel Economy standards and a                     In this document, in the interest of
                                                      term Evaluation comment periods. This                   national harmonized program; and                       harmonization between the GHG and
                                                      additional comment period provides an                      • The impact of the standards on                    CAFE programs, EPA is also requesting
                                                      opportunity for commenters to submit                    other relevant factors.5                               comment on the separate question of
                                                      to EPA additional studies and other                        Pursuant to 40 CFR 86.1818–                         whether the light-duty vehicle
                                                      materials as well as to complete the                    12(h)(1)(viii), EPA also invites                       greenhouse gas standards established for
                                                      preparation of their comments, or                       comments on the following other factors                model year 2021 are appropriate. In its
                                                      submit additional comments in light of                  relevant to setting greenhouse gas                     July 26, 2017, ‘‘Notice of Intent To
                                                      newly available information. There is an                emission standards under section 202(a)                Prepare an Environmental Impact
                                                      existing body of EPA analyses and                       of the Clean Air Act for model years                   Statement for Model Year 2022–2025
                                                      public comments already in the docket.                  2022 through 2025:                                     Corporate Average Fuel Economy
                                                      Please note that the agency is primarily                   • The impact of the standards on                    Standards,’’ NHTSA stated that as part
                                                      interested in comments relevant to the                  compliance with other air quality                      of its upcoming CAFE rulemaking, it
                                                      reconsideration of the Final                            standards;                                             may evaluate the model year 2021
                                                      Determination, rather than the                             • The extent to which consumers                     standards it finalized in 2012 to ensure
                                                      Technical Assessment Report (TAR),                      value fuel savings from greater                        they remain ‘‘maximum feasible’’ (See
                                                      which is not being reopened for                         efficiency of vehicles;                                82 FR 34742). Please provide comment
                                                      comment in this document.                                  • The ability for OEMs to incorporate               on the continued appropriateness of the
                                                      Additionally, NHTSA has been working                    fuel saving technologies, including                    model year 2021 GHG standards based
                                                      closely with stakeholders to develop its                those with ‘‘negative costs,’’ absent the              on the application of the factors
                                                      forthcoming rulemaking since the                        standards;                                             described above or any other factors that
                                                      March 2017 joint document with EPA,                        • The distributional consequences on                commenters believe are appropriate.
                                                      and encourages commenters wishing to                    households;
                                                      inform those efforts to directly                           • The appropriate reference fleet;                    Dated: August 10, 2017.
                                                      participate in NHTSA’s rulemaking                          • The impact of the standards on                    Elaine L. Chao,
                                                      process.                                                advanced fuels technology, including                   Secretary, Department of Transportation.
                                                         EPA’s reconsideration will be                        but not limited to the potential for high-               Dated: August 10, 2017.
                                                      conducted in accordance with the                        octane blends;                                         E. Scott Pruitt,
                                                      regulations EPA established for the Mid-                   • The availability of realistic                     Administrator, Environmental Protection
                                                      term Evaluation at 40 CFR 86.1818–                      technological concepts for improving                   Agency.
                                                      12(h). These regulations state that in                  efficiency in automobiles that                         [FR Doc. 2017–17419 Filed 8–18–17; 8:45 am]
                                                      making the required determination as to                 consumers demand, as well as any                       BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
                                                      whether the existing standards are                      indirect impacts on emissions;
                                                                                                                 • The advantages or deficiencies in
                                                      appropriate under section 202(a) of the
                                                                                                              EPA’s past approaches to forecasting
                                                      Clean Air Act, the Administrator shall                                                                         DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                                                                              and projecting automobile technologies,
                                                      consider the information available on                                                                          HUMAN SERVICES
                                                                                                              including but not limited to baseline
                                                      the factors relevant to setting
                                                                                                              projections for compliance costs,                      42 CFR Part 10
                                                      greenhouse gas emission standards
                                                                                                              technology penetration rates, technology
                                                      under section 202(a) of the Clean Air                                                                          RIN 0906–AB11
                                                                                                              performance, etc.;
                                                      Act for model years 2022 through 2025,
                                                                                                                 • The impact of the standards on
                                                      including but not limited to:                                                                                  340B Drug Pricing Program Ceiling
                                                                                                              consumer behavior, including but not
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                              limited to consumer purchasing                         Price and Manufacturer Civil Monetary
                                                        3 77 FR 62624 (October 15, 2012). NHTSA is
                                                                                                              behavior and consumer automobile                       Penalties Regulation
                                                      statutorily required to conduct a de novo
                                                      rulemaking on MY 2022 to 2025 standards for light-      usage behavior (e.g. impacts on                        AGENCY:  Health Resources and Services
                                                      duty vehicles. NHTSA has recently taken the first       rebound, fleet turnover, consumer                      Administration, HHS.
                                                      step in this process by publishing the ‘‘Notice of      welfare effects, etc.); and                            ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking;
                                                      Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact
                                                      Statement for Model Year 2022–2025 Corporate
                                                                                                                 • Any relevant information in light of              further delay of effective date.
                                                      Average Fuel Economy Standards’’ on July 26,            newly available information.
                                                      2017.                                                                                                          SUMMARY:  The Health Resources and
                                                        4 81 FR 87927 (Dec. 6, 2016).                           5 40   CFR 86.1818–12(h)(1).                         Services Administration (HRSA)


                                                 VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:21 Aug 18, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00009    Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\21AUP1.SGM   21AUP1


                                                      39554                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 160 / Monday, August 21, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                      administers section 340B of the Public                  manufacturers who knowingly and                       comments on whether that date should
                                                      Health Service Act (PHSA), which is                     intentionally charge a covered entity                 be further extended to October 1, 2017.
                                                      referred to as the ‘‘340B Drug Pricing                  more than the ceiling price for a covered             HHS received several comments to the
                                                      Program’’ or the ‘‘340B Program.’’ HHS                  outpatient drug; to provide clarity                   interim final rule, some supporting and
                                                      is soliciting comments on delaying the                  regarding the requirement that                        some opposing the delay of the effective
                                                      effective date of the January 5, 2017                   manufacturers calculate the 340B                      date to May 22, 2017, or alternatively to
                                                      final rule that sets forth the calculation              ceiling price on a quarterly basis; and to            October 1, 2017. After careful
                                                      of the ceiling price and application of                 establish the requirement that a                      consideration of the comments received,
                                                      civil monetary penalties, and applies to                manufacturer charge $.01 (penny                       HHS delayed the effective date of the
                                                      all drug manufacturers that are required                pricing) for each unit of a drug when the             January 5, 2017 final rule to October 1,
                                                      to make their drugs available to covered                ceiling price calculation equals zero (80             2017 (82 FR 22893, May 19, 2017).
                                                      entities under the 340B Program. HHS                    FR 34583, June 17, 2015). The public
                                                                                                              comment period closed on August 17,                   II. Proposal To Delay the Effective Date
                                                      proposes to delay the effective date of
                                                                                                              2015, and HRSA received 35 comments.                  of the Final Rule
                                                      the final rule published in the Federal
                                                      Register (82 FR 1210, January 5, 2017)                  After review of the initial comments,                    HHS proposes to further delay the
                                                      to July 1, 2018. HHS proposes this                      HHS reopened the comment period (81                   effective date of the January 5, 2017
                                                      action in order to allow a more                         FR 22960, April 19, 2016) to invite                   final rule because it continues to
                                                      deliberate process of considering                       additional comments on the following                  examine important substantive issues in
                                                      alternative and supplemental regulatory                 areas of the NPRM: 340B ceiling price                 matters covered by the rule. HHS
                                                      provisions and to allow for sufficient                  calculations that result in a ceiling price           intends to engage in additional
                                                      time for additional rulemaking, as set                  that equals zero (penny pricing); the                 rulemaking on these issues. HHS
                                                      forth below.                                            methodology that manufacturers use                    believes that the proposed delay will
                                                      DATES: Submit comments on or before                     when estimating the ceiling price for a               allow for necessary time to more fully
                                                      September 20, 2017.                                     new covered outpatient drug; and the                  consider the substantial questions of
                                                                                                              definition of the ‘‘knowing and                       fact, law and policy raised by the rule,
                                                      ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
                                                                                                              intentional’’ standard to be applied                  consistent with the aforementioned
                                                      identified by the Regulatory Information
                                                                                                              when assessing a CMP for                              ‘‘Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,’’
                                                      Number (RIN) 0906–AB11, by any of the
                                                                                                              manufacturers that overcharge a covered               memorandum. Requiring manufacturers
                                                      following methods. Please submit your
                                                                                                              entity. The comment period closed May                 to make targeted and potentially costly
                                                      comments in only one of these ways to
                                                                                                              19, 2016, and HHS received 72                         changes to pricing systems and business
                                                      minimize the receipt of duplicate
                                                                                                              comments.                                             procedures in order to comply with a
                                                      submissions.                                               On January 5, 2017, HHS published a
                                                         • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://                                                                      rule that is under further consideration
                                                                                                              final rule in the Federal Register (82 FR             and for which substantive questions
                                                      www.regulations.gov. Follow
                                                                                                              1210, January 5, 2017); comments from                 have been raised would be disruptive.
                                                      instructions for submitting comments.
                                                                                                              both the original comment period                      We also believe additional time is
                                                      This is the preferred method for the
                                                                                                              established in the NPRM and the                       needed to more fully consider previous
                                                      submission of comments.
                                                         • Email: 340BCMPNPRM@hrsa.gov.                       reopened comment period announced                     objections regarding the timing of the
                                                      Include 0906–AB11 in the subject line                   in the April 19, 2016 notice were                     effective date and challenges associated
                                                      of the message.                                         considered in the development of the                  with complying with the rule, as well as
                                                         • Mail: Office of Pharmacy Affairs                   final rule. The provisions of that final              other objections to the rule.
                                                      (OPA), Healthcare Systems Bureau                        rule were to be effective March 6, 2017;                 In addition, the January 20, 2017,
                                                      (HSB), Health Resources and Services                    however, HHS issued a subsequent final                Executive Order entitled, ‘‘Minimizing
                                                      Administration (HRSA), 5600 Fishers                     rule (82 FR 12508, March 6, 2017)                     the Economic Burden of the Patient
                                                      Lane, Mail Stop 08W05A, Rockville, MD                   delaying the effective date to March 21,              Protection and Affordable Care Act
                                                      20857.                                                  2017, in accordance with a January 20,                Pending Repeal,’’ specifically instructs
                                                         All submitted comments will be                       2017 memorandum from the Assistant                    HHS and all other heads of executive
                                                      available to the public in their entirety.              to the President and Chief of Staff, titled           offices to utilize all authority and
                                                      Please do not submit confidential                       ‘‘Regulatory Freeze Pending Review.’’ 1               discretion available to delay the
                                                      commercial information or personal                      In the January 5, 2017 final rule, HHS                implementation of certain provisions or
                                                      identifying information that you do not                 acknowledged that the effective date fell             requirements of the Patient Protection
                                                      want in the public domain.                              during the middle of a quarter and                    and Affordable Care Act.2 The January
                                                                                                              stakeholders needed time to adjust                    5, 2017 final rule is based on changes
                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                              systems and update their policies and                 made to the 340B Program by the
                                                      CAPT Krista Pedley, Director, OPA,
                                                                                                              procedures. As such, HHS stated that it               Patient Protection and Affordable Care
                                                      HSB, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail
                                                                                                              intended to enforce the requirements of               Act. HHS is proposing to delay the
                                                      Stop 08W05A, Rockville, MD 20857, or
                                                                                                              the final rule at the start of the next               effective date of the January 5, 2017
                                                      by telephone at 301–594–4353.
                                                                                                              quarter, which began April 1, 2017.                   final rule to July 1, 2018, to also allow
                                                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                 After further consideration and to                 for a sufficient amount of time to more
                                                      I. Background                                           provide affected parties sufficient time              fully consider the regulatory burdens
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                              to make needed changes to facilitate                  that may be posed by this final rule.
                                                         On September 30, 2010, HHS                           compliance, and because questions were                   At this time, HHS seeks public
                                                      published an advanced notice of                         raised, HHS issued an interim final rule              comments regarding the impact of
                                                      proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in the                      (82 FR 14332, March 20, 2017), to delay               delaying the effective date of the final
                                                      Federal Register, ‘‘340B Drug Pricing                   the effective date of the final rule to May           rule, published January 5, 2017, for an
                                                      Program Manufacturer Civil Monetary                     22, 2017, and solicited additional                    additional nine months from the current
                                                      Penalties’’ (75 FR 57230, September 20,
                                                      2010). HHS subsequently published a                       1 See: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-          2 See: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-
                                                      notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)                    office/2017/01/20/memorandum-heads-executive-         office/2017/01/2/executive-order-minimizing-
                                                      on June 17, 2015 to implement CMPs for                  departments-and-agencies.                             economic-burden-patient-protection-and



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 160 / Monday, August 21, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                39555

                                                      effective date of October 1, 2017 to July               be prepared for major rules with                      RFA. HHS estimates that the economic
                                                      1, 2018, while a more deliberate                        economically significant effects ($100                impact on small entities and small
                                                      rulemaking process is considered. HHS                   million or more in any 1 year), and a                 manufacturers will be minimal. HHS
                                                      encourages all stakeholders to provide                  ‘‘significant’’ regulatory action is subject          welcomes comments concerning the
                                                      comments on this proposed rule.                         to review by the Office of Management                 impact of this proposed rule on small
                                                                                                              and Budget (OMB).                                     manufacturers and small health care
                                                      III. Regulatory Impact Analysis                            HHS does not believe that the                      providers.
                                                         HHS has examined the effects of this                 proposal to delay the effective date of
                                                      proposed rule as required by Executive                  the January 5, 2017, final rule will have             Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                                      Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning                      an economic impact of $100 million or                   Section 202(a) of the Unfunded
                                                      and Review (September 30, 1993),                        more, and is therefore not designated as
                                                      Executive Order 13563 on Improving                                                                            Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires
                                                                                                              an ‘‘economically significant’’ proposed
                                                      Regulation and Regulatory Review                                                                              that agencies prepare a written
                                                                                                              rule under section 3(f)(1) of the
                                                      (January 8, 2011), the Regulatory                                                                             statement, which includes an
                                                                                                              Executive Order 12866. Therefore, the
                                                      Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96–354,                                                                              assessment of anticipated costs and
                                                                                                              economic impact of having no rule in
                                                      September 19, 1980), the Unfunded                                                                             benefits, before proposing ‘‘any rule that
                                                                                                              place related to the policies addressed
                                                      Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L.                                                                          includes any Federal mandate that may
                                                                                                              in the final rule is believed to be
                                                      104–4), and Executive Order 13132 on                                                                          result in the expenditure by State, local,
                                                                                                              minimal, as the policies would not yet
                                                      Federalism (August 4, 1999).                                                                                  and Tribal governments, in the
                                                                                                              be required or enforceable.
                                                                                                                 Executive Order 13771, entitled                    aggregate, or by the private sector, of
                                                      Executive Orders 12866, 13563 and                                                                             $100 million or more (adjusted annually
                                                                                                              Reducing Regulation and Controlling
                                                      13771                                                                                                         for inflation) in any one year.’’ In 2013,
                                                                                                              Regulatory Costs, was issued on January
                                                         Executive Orders 12866 and 13563                     30, 2017. This proposed rule is not                   that threshold level was approximately
                                                      direct agencies to assess all costs and                 expected to be an EO 13771 regulatory                 $141 million. HHS does not expect this
                                                      benefits of available regulatory                        action because this proposed rule is not              rule to exceed the threshold.
                                                      alternatives and, if regulation is                      significant under EO 12866.                           Executive Order 13132—Federalism
                                                      necessary, to select regulatory
                                                      approaches that maximize net benefits                   The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
                                                                                                                                                                       HHS has reviewed this proposed rule
                                                      (including potential economic,                             The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                  in accordance with Executive Order
                                                      environmental, public health and safety                 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) (RFA) and the Small               13132 regarding federalism, and has
                                                      effects, distributive impacts, and                      Business Regulatory Enforcement and                   determined that it does not have
                                                      equity). Executive Order 13563 is                       Fairness Act of 1996, which amended                   ‘‘federalism implications.’’ This
                                                      supplemental to and reaffirms the                       the RFA, require HHS to analyze                       proposed rule would not ‘‘have
                                                      principles, structures, and definitions                 options for regulatory relief of small                substantial direct effects on the States,
                                                      governing regulatory review as                          businesses. If a rule has a significant               or on the relationship between the
                                                      established in Executive Order 12866,                   economic effect on a substantial number               national government and the States, or
                                                      emphasizing the importance of                           of small entities, the Secretary must                 on the distribution of power and
                                                      quantifying both costs and benefits, of                 specifically consider the economic                    responsibilities among the various
                                                      reducing costs, of harmonizing rules,                   effect of the rule on small entities and              levels of government.’’
                                                      and of promoting flexibility. Section 3(f)              analyze regulatory options that could
                                                      of Executive Order 12866 defines a                      lessen the impact of the rule. HHS will               Paperwork Reduction Act
                                                      ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ as an                 use an RFA threshold of at least a 3
                                                      action that is likely to result in a rule:              percent impact on at least 5 percent of                 The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
                                                      (1) Having an annual effect on the                      small entities.                                       (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires that OMB
                                                      economy of $100 million or more in any                     For purposes of the RFA, HHS                       approve all collections of information
                                                      1 year, or adversely and materially                     considers all health care providers to be             by a federal agency from the public
                                                      affecting a sector of the economy,                      small entities either by meeting the                  before they can be implemented. This
                                                      productivity, competition, jobs, the                    Small Business Administration (SBA)                   proposed rule is projected to have no
                                                      environment, public health or safety, or                size standard for a small business, or by             impact on current reporting and
                                                      State, local, or Tribal governments or                  being a nonprofit organization that is                recordkeeping burden for manufacturers
                                                      communities (also referred to as                        not dominant in its market. The current               under the 340B Program. This proposed
                                                      ‘‘economically significant’’); (2) creating             SBA size standard for health care                     rule would result in no new reporting
                                                      a serious inconsistency or otherwise                    providers ranges from annual receipts of              burdens. Comments are welcome on the
                                                      interfering with an action taken or                     $7 million to $35.5 million. As of                    accuracy of this statement.
                                                      planned by another agency; (3)                          January 1, 2017, over 12,000 covered                  George Sigounas,
                                                      materially altering the budgetary                       entities participate in the 340B Program,
                                                                                                                                                                    Administrator, Health Resources and Services
                                                      impacts of entitlement grants, user fees,               which represent safety-net health care                Administration.
                                                      or loan programs or the rights and                      providers across the country. HHS has
                                                                                                                                                                      Approved: August 16, 2017.
                                                      obligations of recipients thereof; or (4)               determined, and the Secretary certifies,
                                                      raising novel legal or policy issues                    that this proposed rule will not have a               Thomas E. Price,
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      arising out of legal mandates, the                      significant impact on the operations of               Secretary, Department of Health and Human
                                                      President’s priorities, or the principles               a substantial number of small                         Services.
                                                      set forth in the Executive Order. A                     manufacturers; therefore, we are not                  [FR Doc. 2017–17633 Filed 8–17–17; 11:15 am]
                                                      regulatory impact analysis (RIA) must                   preparing an analysis of impact for this              BILLING CODE 4165–15–P




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Document Created: 2017-08-19 00:44:31
Document Modified: 2017-08-19 00:44:31
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionNotice of proposed rulemaking; further delay of effective date.
DatesSubmit comments on or before September 20, 2017.
ContactCAPT Krista Pedley, Director, OPA, HSB, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop 08W05A, Rockville, MD 20857, or by telephone at 301-594-4353.
FR Citation82 FR 39553 
RIN Number0906-AB11

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