Ensuring that healthcare programs benefit the patients they are designed to help is crucial for Kansas.
The 340B Drug Pricing Program, initially created to aid underserved communities, has been found to often fall short of this goal. Instead of providing necessary discounts to Kansans, it has become a source of significant profit for certain entities and for-profit pharmacies. This has led to increased costs for patients and disadvantaged rural hospitals struggling to compete.
Comprehensive Congressional reform is needed to realign the program with its original mission of improving access to affordable healthcare for all Kansans. Supporting protections against 340B abuse in the Kansas State Legislative budget is a critical step in this process.
H.E.A.L.S. of the South joined 15+ organizations in the state are appreciative of the addition of protections against 340B abuse in the omnibus budget bills.
We cannot expand the federal 340B program until we can be sure the program works as originally intended – to improve access for patients in Kansas.