Can Community Health Centers participate in the Prime Vendor Program (PVP) and a group purchasing organization (GPO)?

Yes. All covered entities may participate in the PVP, although disproportionate share hospitals, children's hospitals, and freestanding cancer centers that participate in the 340B Program are prohibited from purchasing covered outpatient drugs through a GPO. 340B Prime Vendor participation is voluntary, and there are no restrictions placed on covered entities electing to participate. Most alternative purchasing groups serving 330 grantees and other entities encourage participation in the 340B PVP to ensure members have access to the best pricing on pharmaceuticals while offering members their own contract portfolios of medical/surgical, dental, office, and other non-pharmacy supplies, which tend to be complementary to the 340B PVP pharmacy portfolio. On occasion, there may be an alternative purchasing group that does not permit a member to simultaneously access their own contracts and 340B PVP contracts due to existing business relationships with a supply partner. In this situation, the covered entity may be required to notify the alternative purchasing group to cancel its membership before the selected pharmacy wholesaler will load the 340B PVP pricing available to the entity's pharmacy account.