April 10, 2019— For far too many patients in the U.S., access to needed health care is often out of reach. Millions of Americans – including those who live with disabilities, those with lower incomes, and members of racial and ethnic minority groups – struggle to get needed care. But hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program are helping counter that trend by … [Read more...]
A Healthy Dose of Sunlight for Drug Companies
April 1, 2019— Today is a very good day for safety-net hospitals and the patients in need who rely on them. After nine long years of delay and preparation, the federal government today launched a new secure website. The site will provide hospitals, clinics, and health centers participating in the 340B drug pricing program with information on the maximum amount – or ceiling … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: “We Hope They Will Never Go Away”
March 20, 2019— Mikayla Robinson was so inspired by the compassionate care she received from a 340B safety-net provider that she now is part of their caregiving team. Mikayla first came to Equitas Health, a federally qualified community health center based in Columbus, Ohio, when she was diagnosed with HIV in 2006. With the help of care services from Equitas and access … [Read more...]
Keeping Rural Hospitals Open Is a Key Part of 340B
March 7, 2019– It is a statistic that many will find startling, or even frightening: one in five rural hospitals in the U.S. are at risk of closing their doors unless their financial situations improve. That’s according to a recent report by Navigant, a global consultancy firm based in Chicago. The analysis looked at more than 2,000 rural hospitals across the nation to gauge … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: Expert help means healthier patients
February 27, 2019-- Patients often need help with their medications, and there is no better person to provide this assistance than a pharmacy expert who can offer one-on-one education. That’s why Baystate Health, a four-hospital health system in Western Massachusetts, embeds discharge liaisons in its academic medical center as well as pharmacists in its inner-city clinics. … [Read more...]
340B Advocates Meet in San Diego
February 5, 2019— Hundreds of pharmacists, 340B program directors, and other patient advocates convened in San Diego last week for the 15th Annual 340B Coalition Winter Conference, the largest such gathering to date. The event gave safety-net hospitals, community health centers, Ryan White clinics, and other safety-net providers a chance to discuss the latest developments in … [Read more...]
340B Hospitals Serve a Vital Role in Combatting Opioid Epidemic
January 23, 2019– Since 1999, more than 700,000 Americans have lost their lives to a drug overdose, and care for people affected by this epidemic has added an estimated $1 trillion to the U.S. healthcare bill. According to the CDC, in 2017 more than 70,000 opioid-related deaths were the main contributor to a decline in U.S. life expectancy. Confronting the nation’s opioid … [Read more...]