Dr Steven Yates on the 340B Drug Pricing Program

The Center for Biosimilars® interviewed Steven Yates, MD, a medical oncologist and medical director at Intermountain Healthcare in Las Vegas, Nevada. Three years ago, Intermountain hired him to lead its biosimilar adoption effort.

Dr Yates expresses distaste for the 340B Drug Pricing Program, calling it a “disaster for community oncology” because it has contributed to a reduction in community oncology practices across the country over the years. The 340B program has given hospitals an unfair advantage, enabling them to acquire physician-led practices, he says. In many cases savings from the program have not benefited paitents. Ironically, Yates says, 340B hospitals have been very slow to adopt biosimilars, instead preferring reference products at prices that are higher on average than biosimilar prices.