17 Aug AHA.org: 340B, A vital safety-net program

The exorbitant cost of many prescription drugs threatens providers’ ability to provide life-saving medications for millions of Americans.

That is why the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which provides discounts on drugs to some health care providers who serve large numbers of low-income and uninsured patients, is so critical.

Efforts to scale back or eliminate it are the wrong prescription for advancing the health of underserved communities, and vulnerable patients would be the ones who suffer That is the message we delivered to the House Energy & Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee in a statement for the panel’s July 18 hearing on the program.

Congress created the 340B program 25 years ago to give eligible health care providers financial relief from high prescription drug prices. Providers use the savings they receive on the discounted drugs to provide local access to drugs and treatments for cancer patients, clinical pharmacy services, community outreach programs, free vaccinations, transportation to patients for follow-up appointments and many other services to their communities.”

Read more: http://blog.aha.org/post/170720-a-vital-safetynet-program