Washington Post publishes AHA letter in response to anti-340B editorial

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:  

“There are many commonsense, bipartisan ways to reduce the cost of health care in the U.S. but cutting the 340B drug pricing program is not one of them. 

The program is essential to the welfare of patients and communities across the country. Eligible hospitals use 340B savings to provide free or low-cost drugs to patients in need, care for the uninsured and sustain critical service lines such as labor and delivery and behavioral health. These savings also support vital community health programs, including diabetes prevention, food banks, mobile mammography and opioid treatment. 

Growth in the program reflects decisions made to expand its reach to underserved populations, including children, cancer patients and rural communities. In addition, program size is directly linked to the high prices that drug companies set for their products; the more drug companies charge for drugs, the greater the discounts and the larger the growth in the program. Hospital drug expenses increased 13.6 percent in 2025, making spending on pharmaceuticals one of the fastest-growing components needed for care. 

Finally, because 340B discounts apply only to outpatient drugs, the program has grown due to advances in technology that have made care easier to do on an outpatient basis. 

Policymakers, patients and the public must keep the 340B program strong.”