340B Health Statement on Congressional Chairmen’s Information Request to 340B Entities
Washington, D.C., September 11, 2017— Late on Sept. 8, the House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman asked a number of covered entities for financial and clinical information about their participation in the 340B program to better understand how they are using their savings from this important program. 340B Health supports 340B program integrity and oversight.
340B Health studies show how hospitals are using their program savings to help low-income and rural patients. We are confident that 340B hospitals are using the program to benefit low-income patients. And we encourage hospitals to be able to describe the work they do to help their low-income patients.
The 340B program gives hospitals that serve large numbers of low-income and rural patients relief from high drug prices. For 25 years, hospitals have relied on savings to fund critical programs for their low-income, Medicaid, uninsured, and underinsured patient populations. Compared to other providers, 340B hospitals serve far more low-income patients, including more low-income cancer patients, and more seniors who are disabled, dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, or are a racial or ethnic minority. They provide more uncompensated care than non-340B hospitals and are more likely to provide specialized services that are critical to low-income patients but are often underpaid, like labor and delivery, trauma care, and HIV/AIDS services.
We look forward to continuing to share information about the value of the 340B program in helping hospitals meet the needs of their low-income and rural patients.
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Contact Tom Mirga at tom.mirga@340bhealth.org or 202-552-5853.