HRSA Administrator Carol Johnson | Health Resources and Services Administration
HRSA Administrator Carol Johnson | Health Resources and Services Administration
This program is a federal initiative that enables eligible hospitals and healthcare organizations to purchase outpatient medications at significantly discounted prices.
Established in 1992, the program aims to provide financial relief to healthcare providers serving vulnerable populations, allowing them to stretch their scarce resources and reach more eligible patients.
Hospitals participating in the 340B program can use the savings to fund essential services and programs, such as free or low-cost medication assistance, expanded access to healthcare, and community outreach initiatives.
Participating hospitals, however, "often extend their 340B discounts to clinics in well-off communities, where they can charge privately insured patients more than those on Medicaid,” reported the Wall Street Journal.
"In some cases, the program appears to be bolstering profits in well-off areas more than it is underwriting services in less-privileged neighborhoods,” said the Journal article.
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced a bill in 2023 that he said would ensure "that organizations are transparent about how they use resources from” the 340B program.
"The 340B Drug Pricing Program is supposed to help low-income and uninsured Americans afford their medicine, but some are taking advantage of the program at the expense of vulnerable patients,” said Kennedy.
| Hospital | City |
|---|---|
| Campbell County Memorial Hospital | Gillette |
| Community Hospital | Torrington |
| Crook County Medical Services | Sundance |
| Hot Springs County Memorial | Thermopolis |
| Johnson County Healthcare | Buffalo |
| Memorial Hospital of Carbon County | Rawlins |
| Memorial Hospital of Converse County | Douglas |
| Niobrara County Hospital District | Lusk |
| North Big Horn Hospital District | Lovell |
| Platte County Memorial Hospital | Wheatland |
| Powell Valley Healthcare | Powell |
| South Big Horn Hospital | Basin |
| South Lincoln Hospital District | Kemmerer |
| Star Valley Health | Afton |
| Washakie Medical Center | Worland |
| West Park Hospital District | Cody |
| Weston County Health District | Newcastle |
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