06 Aug Congress Should Reject the 340B PATIENTS Act and Protect Vulnerable Patients
Last month, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Senator Peter Welch introduced the 340B PATIENTS Act, aiming to codify contract pharmacies into the 340B Drug Pricing Program statute. While that may sound like progress, the Health Equity Collaborative (HEC) warns that this bill could do more harm than good, especially for the vulnerable communities the 340B program was designed to serve.
What is the 340B Program?
The 340B program helps safety-net providers, such as community health centers and rural hospitals, access discounted medications. These savings allow them to expand services and provide affordable care to uninsured and underinsured patients. It’s a crucial tool for reducing health disparities and improving access.
Why the 340B PATIENTS Act is Problematic
Instead of strengthening the program, this bill locks in an unchecked expansion of contract pharmacies without necessary safeguards. Since 2010, the number of contract pharmacies has increased by over 12,000 percent, yet there is little evidence that this benefits patients most in need. Contract pharmacies often charge patients full price while pocketing huge profits from discounts meant to help vulnerable populations. The expansion has disproportionately favored wealthier areas and large for-profit corporations, driving up costs for taxpayers and patients alike.
Why Congress Must Act Now
HEC urges Congress to reject this bill and instead focus on fundamental reforms that protect patients and restore the program’s original intent. We need greater transparency, oversight, and limits on contract pharmacies to ensure savings reach the patients who depend on them.
The future of affordable, equitable medication access is at stake. The 340B program was created to help the most vulnerable—not to serve as a profit center for middlemen.
Read our full letter to Congress and learn why the 340B PATIENTS Act is a step in the wrong direction.