Bayer and EMD Serono on Wednesday announced they will limit 340B discounts on drugs dispensed through contract pharmacies, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Massachusetts/Missouri, Ohio, and Utah.

• Massachusetts/Missouri: Bayer and EMD Serono on Wednesday announced that they will only offer 340B discounts to hospitals and their affiliates that are 340B-covered entities, effective March 1. The drugmakers will join around 20 companies that limit 340B discounts on drugs distributed through contract pharmacies. Notably, their announcements follow a ruling made last week in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals that favored three other drug companies that restricted 340B drug discounts given to safety-net hospitals through contract pharmacies. According to Bayer's announcement, the 340B program has "strayed far from its original purpose" of helping safety-net hospitals expand access to drugs for vulnerable, low-income populations. (Kacik, Modern Healthcare, 2/1)

• Ohio: Cleveland Clinic on Thursday appointed Banner Health executive Dennis Laraway as its next CFO, effective March 13. Laraway has served as Banner's CFO since 2017. Previously, he served as the CFO of Memorial Hermann Health System, Scott & White Healthcare, St. Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center, and Seton Health System. Laraway will succeed Tony Helton, who was appointed interim CFO in May after the health system's longtime CFO Steven Glass was recruited by Medical Mutual of Ohio. After Laraway steps into his new role, Helton will resume his role as executive director of revenue cycle management. (Hudson, Modern Healthcare, 2/2)

• Utah: Intermountain Health (IH) on Thursday appointed Nannette Berensen as its COO. Berensen succeeds Rob Allen, who was appointed as IH's President and CEO on Dec. 1. "There are formidable challenges facing healthcare that will require the collective wisdom and efforts of all of us to position Intermountain Health for future success. I am confident that by working together, we will be successful," Berensen said. Over the past 17 years, Berensen has held several positions at IH. Most recently, she served as VP and COO of clinical shared services. "I have the highest respect for and confidence in Nannette, who has demonstrated a unique ability to drive innovation, bring teams together and improve the patient experience," Allen said. (Berryman, Modern Healthcare, 2/2)