HHS Threatens Boehringer Ingelheim With Fines Over 340B Noncompliance

German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) is the latest biopharmaceutical company to get a letter from HHS saying the company’s unwillingness to participate in the controversial 340B drug discount program has been referred to the HHS Office of Inspector General.

The letter from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) threatens $5,000 fines for each instance of noncompliance if the company continues declining to offer the discounts.

In late September, HRSA sent similar letters to six pharmaceutical companies — AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and United Therapeutics.