The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approved applications from eight drugmakers to participate in a pilot testing a new 340B reimbursement rebate model. The decision allows companies including Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb to supply drugs under proposed pilot rules that alter how discounts and rebates are administered to 340B‑covered entities. The 340B program provides discounted medicines to eligible safety‑net providers; the pilot tests alternative rebate structures intended to evaluate cost‑savings and access outcomes. HHS approval permits firms to implement the model at select sites under federal oversight. Stakeholders expect close monitoring of patient access, provider impact and program integrity metrics during the pilot period; manufacturers and providers will watch for operational and reimbursement implications if pilots are expanded.