340B Health

Here are the ABCs of #340B: how it works, and the congressional intent behind this successful, bipartisan program that requires no taxpayer dollars to fund care. A. Safety-net hospitals, health centers, and clinics that serve a large portion of uninsured, underinsured, or rural patients receive discounts from drugmakers on eligible outpatient drugs. When an insured patient receives one of these drugs, the difference between the 340B price and the reimbursement rate generates cost savings for the provider. B. 340B providers use those savings to fund health care services and programs best suited to their community’s needs. Examples could include building a state-of-the-art cancer center, providing free or discounted drugs to low-income patients, keeping a hospital’s doors open in a rural area, and much more. C. By receiving more access to crucial care, patients’ health outcomes improve, and the entire health care system saves money in the long run due to lowered emergency room and hospital readmissions. #Becauseof340B #Pharmacy #HealthPolicy

UI Health's #340B-funded Medication Therapy Management Clinic (MTMC) significantly reduced costs for patient Hanan Tadros, and its physicians helped educate her on taking needed medications for her multiple chronic conditions. Since starting at the MTMC, Hanan has not had to receive an insulin shot in more than seven years, and her holistic wellbeing has improved tremendously. “They saved my life. I hope [340B] can continue,” Hanan said. Hear about how her medical journey improved #Becauseof340B: 

#340B hospitals have until September 9 to recertify and remain eligible for 340B. We invited our Vice President of Pharmacy Services Steven Miller on #340BInsight to explain who is responsible for this process, how they should prepare, and what the best practices are: bit.ly/3yJwI37

Drug industry allies who claim #340B costs too much are dropping hundreds of thousands of dollars on misleading political advertisements aimed at influencing local elections. West Virginia Public Broadcasting reports on pharma-funded opposition to a state senator who protected 340B contract pharmacy arrangements. They warn of similar pursuits in states with their own protections on the books. The President of the West Virginia Hospital Association stated that if 340B goes away or is seriously curtailed, the local community stands to suffer the most. Learn more about what’s at stake for the health care safety net if these actions continue: bit.ly/42DJM48 #Protect340B

“Do I feed my kids this week or do I buy my breathing meds?” was the question facing Dan Hargrave following a #COPD diagnosis. Fortunately for Dan, he saved $600 on his medications annually #Becauseof340B, enabling him to avoid tough financial decisions and focus on his health. www.becauseof340B.org

Kathleen Cavanaugh was paying out-of-pocket for several medications to treat her chronic conditions. Her fixed income meant that sometimes she had to switch to lower-priced medicines that did not work as well or forgo medications altogether due to high costs. But #Becauseof340B and St. Luke's Health System, Kathleen qualified for financial assistance through the 340B Assist program, which has kept her healthy and out of hospitals ever since. Hear her story: bit.ly/2YDqtXq #340B

We are celebrating innovation in #340B for our 100th episode of #340BInsight! This episode covers how one health system uses an #AI “robot” to strengthen its 340B program. Listen and learn from the enterprise team lead at WVU Medicine: bit.ly/46BIKrC Elizabeth Gibson

Rural hospitals providing essential #cancer care are struggling. #340B helps them stay afloat. Lack of access to transportation, childcare, and time off work are all barriers patients in rural communities and their families face when undergoing #chemotherapy. #Becauseof340B, more hospitals can keep care local, allowing patients to focus on recovery. Read more in CBS News: cbsn.ws/3WuLDWT

We’re in Iowa meeting with our members and other #340B stakeholders in the region, delivering the latest insights on federal legislation, drugmaker conditions on pharmacy partnerships, the IRA, and more. The Q&A and networking portions of these roundtables are excellent opportunities to debrief and strategize on solutions. We hope to see you soon in a city near you! #Becauseof340B

#Becauseof340B, hospitals have provided care to millions of patients at no cost to taxpayers for the past 30-plus years. Here’s how it works: 1. Hospitals meet rigorous eligibility requirements to qualify for 340B. 2. Hospitals use savings to provide more care to more patients living in under-resourced areas. 3. Hospitals rely on 340B as a lifeline, with 93% of rural hospitals using savings to keep their doors open. Learn more: www.becauseof340B.org.