Originally Posted: July 5, 2022
By: Trimmel Gomes
Community health centers are calling on state
and federal lawmakers for added protections against drug manufactures for
drastically cutting them out of a federal drug discount program.
The 340B Drug Pricing program allows health centers to purchase outpatient
medication at reduced costs, so they can then provide it to a greater reach of
patients while drug companies get reimbursed. But in the past two years, drug
producers and third-party prescription drug benefit managers have been
restricting centers, threatening their financial stability.
A survey by
the National Association of Community Health Centers shows more than half their
patients would go without needed medications, including insulin for diabetes
patients and inhalers for children with asthma, if they are cut out of the
program.
Ben Browning, vice president and CEO of the Florida Association of Community
Health Centers, explained the importance of the program.
"These contract arrangements are really the lifeblood," Browning
contended. "They are the lifeline for a lot of the patients that may not
otherwise have access to these reduced-cost, reduced-price medications."
But the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the lobbying arm
of the drug-manufacturing industry, countered the program needs to change,
claiming there is little to no evidence patients are benefiting. They also are
calling for centers to share data in an effort to tamp down on potential fraud
and abuse in the system.
Browning argued the centers continue to fill a critical need because many
health care providers do not have the financial resources to support an
in-house pharmacy. The survey showed 86% of health centers utilize contract
pharmacies, allowing them to serve hundreds of ZIP codes.
"Put some protections in law, in regulations, in statute, that said the
340B program is a vital component of the health care system," Browning
urged. "This is a vital component of maintaining and securing the safety
net."
It is estimated enrolled hospitals and other covered entities in 340B can
achieve average
savings of 25% to 50% in pharmaceutical purchases. The issue is
also playing out in courts with conflicting rulings across the country.
Content for this Post is provided by Florida News
Connection, a Bureau of Public News Service.
Public News Service is a member of the The Trust Project.
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