On Sunday, February 1, members of our Health Equity team joined an estimated 800 patients, providers, advocates, and lawmakers in Chicago to support the 340B Drug Pricing Program and push for the passage of Illinois House Bill 2371.
The 340B program is a federal policy that requires drug companies to provide discounted outpatient medications to qualifying safety net providers.
For example, if a clinic qualifies for 340B and buys a medication for $25 instead of the standard $100 retail price, that difference is significant. If the patient has insurance, the insurer may reimburse the clinic at the normal rate. The clinic then reinvests the savings into expanded services like behavioral health, care coordination, extended hours, sliding scale support for uninsured patients, or outreach programs. If the patient is uninsured, the clinic can pass along the lower cost, so the medication becomes more affordable. Let’s be clear. The program does not give cash to patients. It allows community health centers to stretch limited resources and serve more people.
As you can imagine, drug manufacturers are not very happy with this program, so in recent years they have imposed restrictions that limit how providers can use contract pharmacies, which threatens the stability of the program. House Bill 2371 aims to protect 340B providers in Illinois by preventing interference that limits access and destabilizes safety net care.
We are proud to stand alongside staff and board members of Esperanza Health Centers to defend a program that directly impacts access to care in our communities. This program shapes whether clinics can keep their doors open, whether patients can afford medication, and whether equity is a principle or a practice.
Decisions about 340B are being made now. If we want safety net clinics to remain strong, we cannot stay silent. Call or email your state legislators and urge them to support House Bill 2371.
Let them know that community-based safety net health providers depend on these protections to continue serving working and low-income families. Use the link below to send a message today.
https://iphca.quorum.us/campaign/143936/
