Statement by 340B Health Regarding Introduction of the “Help Act”
Washington, D.C.— Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has introduced legislation that would make extensive changes to the 340B drug pricing program, which provides significant savings to health care providers so that they can stretch scarce resources as far as possible, reaching more patients with more comprehensive services. The following statement was issued by 340B Health, which represents more than 1,300 nonprofit hospitals and health systems participating in 340B:
“We agree the 340B program is an important resource for hospitals and their patients, and support having a thoughtful conversation about transparency in the 340B program. However, we are concerned by the proposals included in the HELP Act. If enacted, these changes would limit the ability of 340B hospitals to fulfill their mission to care for all Americans regardless of their ability to pay. The legislation would make changes to the rules on which hospitals can participate in 340B, which could reduce the number of hospitals that could qualify for the drug discounts. It would also impose significant new reporting requirements that would not shed any light on what hospitals do with their 340B savings to help patients.”
“Publicly available data show that hospitals participating in the 340B program provide 60 percent of all uncompensated care in the U.S. and treat significantly more low-income Medicare and Medicaid patients than other providers. At a time of growing numbers of uninsured and underinsured Americans, Congress should not weaken a program that, at no cost to the taxpayer, provides care to millions of people in need. We stand ready to work with lawmakers in both parties to make certain the 340B program continues to play its vital role in providing access to high-quality, affordable care.”
Contact: Richard Sorian at richard.sorian@340bhealth.org or 202-536-2285.