STATEMENT ON NEW BIPARTISAN HOUSE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT 340B HOSPITALS DURING COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 29, 2020— The following statement is attributed to 340B Health President and CEO Maureen Testoni on the legislation introduced today by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Chris Stewart (R-Utah):
“We are enormously grateful to Congresswoman Matsui and Congressman Stewart for their continued championing of the 340B drug pricing program. This bipartisan legislation will ensure no safety-net hospital will lose its access to 340B drug prices due to the changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 340B hospitals are on the front lines of our public health response, and access to 340B discounts is one of their few reliable resources. Losing 340B eligibility would be disastrous for safety-net hospitals, as they are facing significant challenges due to COVID-19. We appreciate Congresswoman Matsui and Congressman Stewart for their swift action to prevent this from happening.”
“The provisions of the bill would help 340B hospitals, from small facilities serving rural communities to large urban teaching hospitals in our major cities. The legislation would make sure the changes hospitals need to make to prepare for and care for COVID patients will not cause them to lose 340B status due to their disproportionate share (DSH) percentages dropping below statutory levels. It also would allow 340B hospitals to use group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to buy drugs in instances where the medications are unavailable through normal channels. Both changes are vital to protecting and preserving the safety net.”
“We will work with Congresswoman Matsui, Congressman Stewart, and others in Congress to advocate for this common-sense proposal to become law.”
Contact: Richard Sorian at richard.sorian@340bhealth.org or 202-536-2285.