340B: A Program That Transcends Party Affiliation

by Admin | August 1, 2014 11:17 am

According to the policy magazine National Journal, Congress is more polarized now than ever before. That why it’s especially noteworthy that more than 100 members from both parties and all parts of the political spectrum have signed letters expressing “strong bipartisan support for the 340B drug discount program,” which the lawmakers say allows “hundreds of hospitals and other safety-net providers across the country to do more with less.”

The House letter[1], signed by 77 lawmakers, was addressed to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). Thanks to 340B, it says, hospitals have been able to “expand community based services to our most vulnerable.”

“Our hospitals are able to expand services, increase the number of patients they serve, and offset losses from uncompensated care – all because of the 340B program,” the Representatives wrote. The letter was led by Reps. Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.), Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.).

The Senate letter[2], addressed to Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Ranking Member Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), notes that 340B “expands access to health care services in our states by reducing pharmaceutical costs for hundreds of hospitals serving our most vulnerable constituents.”  The letter, which had 31 signatories, was led by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Rob Portman (R-Ill.).

“We are very gratified to see strong, continued bipartisan support for 340B,” says Ted Slafsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access. “340B is about helping health providers better serve their neediest patients. It’s a program that transcends party affiliation.”

Source URL: https://340binformed.org/2014/08/340b-a-program-that-transcends-party-affiliation/

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