Bravo to the American Hospital Association for its briefing on Capitol Hill yesterday on how hospitals are using 340B savings to improve access to low-cost medications and provide quality care for vulnerable patients.
Congressional staffers and members of the press heard from senior executives and pharmacy directors at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore; the University of Utah Hospital & Clinics in Salt Lake City; Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital in Hood River, Ore.; and Saint Thomas Health in Nashville. We’re proud that all four are members of Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access.
What would happen if Big Pharma succeeds in curtailing or ending 340B?
- St. Thomas Midtown Hospital would scuttle plans to open a free pharmaceutical dispensary for the poor and uninsured.
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital would have to cease medication assistance, hospital-to-home transitional care, and other services for low-income patients in east Baltimore, Md.
- Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital would have to stop offering free or low-cost drugs and comprehensive pharmacy services to patients with cancer.
- And the University of Utah Hospital and Clinics’ ability to provide highly specialized services in a region spanning six states would be severely compromised.
“Access to care is part of fulfilling our mission,” explained Providence Hood River CEO Ed Freisinger. “340B is helping us increase access to care in our community.”
Finally, click here for a great op-ed by AHA President and CEO Rich Umbenstock on how 340B is helping patients and communities across the country.