340B Drug Pricing Program
For more than 30 years, the 340B Drug Pricing Program has provided financial help to hospitals serving vulnerable communities to manage rising prescription drug costs.
What is the 340B Program? This program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), allows 340B hospitals to stretch limited federal resources to reduce the price of outpatient pharmaceuticals for patients and expand health services to the patients and communities they serve. Hospitals use 340B savings to provide, for example, free care for uninsured patients, offer free vaccines, provide services in mental health clinics, and implement medication management and community health programs. According to HRSA, enrolled hospitals and other covered entities can achieve average savings of 25% to 50% in pharmaceutical purchases.
Which organizations are eligible? Several types of hospitals are eligible to participate in the 340B program including critical access hospitals (CAHs), sole community hospitals (SCHs), rural referral centers (RRCs), public and private nonprofit disproportionate share hospitals (DSHs) that serve high numbers of low-income and indigent populations, and free-standing cancer and children’s hospitals. Several types of federal grantee organizations such as community health centers also are eligible to participate in the program.
What are some challenges to the program? Despite rigorous oversight from HRSA and the program’s proven record of expanding access to care for Americans nationwide, critics continue to push to diminish the scope of the program and the benefits it affords eligible providers and their patients.
340B Resources
Member Resources
The AHA Advocacy Alliance for the 340B program focuses on promoting the value that the 340B program provides to hospitals, patients and communities, as well as preventing attempts to scale back this program. Join the alliance for access to email communications, conference calls and special briefings. Join the Alliance.
Through email communications like alliance emails, action alerts and special messages, the 340B Alliance keeps hospitals informed of the latest news and developments on the program, as well as actions hospital leaders can take to support the program. Learn More
Latest 340B Content
The Washington Post yesterday published a letter to the editor from AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack responding to an April 18 editorial criticizing the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The letter states:
The Health Resources and Services Administration should abandon its consideration of a 340B rebate model pilot program because “a rebate mechanism of any kind is flawed in both conception and design,” the AHA told the agency today.
Responding to a request for information, the AHA shared many concerns about how a rebate model would deviate from the purpose of the 340B program.