The 340B drug discount program is a privately funded, federally administered system. The program allows non-profit, safety-net hospitals to purchase outpatient medications from pharmaceutical manufacturers at the same price the manufacturers charge their best customers – NOT for free. Now the program is under threat from the very industry that agreed to this pricing that helps keep hospitals open in some of the most underserved areas.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers, which continue to have record profits, agreed to fund the 340B program in order to be a part of Obamacare. Now they want to back out of that commitment. Their refusal to ship prescription drugs comes at the expense of the poorest and most vulnerable patients being served by 340B hospitals.
SB 27, introduced by Senator Stephen Meredith, will let Kentucky join other states that are swiftly enacting legislation restraining drug manufacturers from imposing arbitrary restrictions on the shipment of 340B drugs to the contracted pharmacies of 340B hospitals. The distribution of prescription drugs is subject to regulation at the state level and SB 27 will restore 340B pricing to hospitals using contract pharmacies.
Contact your state senator today with just a few clicks using the button below to show your support for SB 27 and let them know the importance of 340B to your hospital.
