On July 21, 2014, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released an “interpretive rule” reiterating that 340B-covered entities affected by the orphan drug exclusion may purchase orphan drugs at 340B prices when those orphan drugs are used for indications other than the rare disease or condition for which the drug received an orphan designation.

In a recent website update, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reaffirmed its current interpretation of the 340B discount drug program orphan drug exemption – despite a May 23, 2014 U.S. District Court ruling that vacated HRSA’s orphan drug regulation because of lack of the statutory authority to engage in such rulemaking. According to