Gianforte Joins Bipartisan Effort To Support Rural Hospitals
Congressman Greg Gianforte, along with U.S. Reps. David B. McKinley (R-W.Va.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) led a group of 243 Members of Congress in an effort to protect rural patients and hospitals Sept. 15.
In a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar, the lawmakers requested immediate action to ensure covered safety-net providers continue to receive crucial 340B drug discounts.
Recently, several major drug manufacturers announced they will limit or restrict federally required 340B drug discounts for eligible health care organizations. These providers rely on 340B savings to ensure access to care for low-income and rural patients.
“The 340B program plays an integral role in ensuring eligible health care organizations have access to vital lifesaving medications. As Members of Congress deeply committed to the important safety net mission of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, it is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure covered entities continue to receive crucial 340B drug discounts,” the lawmakers wrote. “Drug manufacturers are flouting their statutory obligations by restricting access to safe, affordable medications for low-income Americans who also are among those most affected by COVID-19,” said Bruce Siegel MD, MPH, President and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals. “We thank the nearly 250 House members led by Reps. McKinley, DeGette, Gianforte, Welch, Johnson, and Matsui, for their swift action to urge the administration to stop big pharma’s ill-timed and illegal efforts to narrow the 340B program.”
The letter reads as follows: “The 340B program plays an integral role in ensuring eligible health care organizations have access to vital lifesaving medications. As Members of Congress deeply committed to the important safety net mission of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, it is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure covered entities continue to receive crucial 340B drug discounts.
“Recently, several pharmaceutical companies have taken a series of actions to restrict federally required 340B drug discounts for eligible health care organizations/covered entities, which are defined in statute and include HRSA- supported health centers and look-alikes, Ryan White clinics, Medicare/Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals, children’s hospitals, and other safety net providers. These providers have always served as a critical part of our health care safety net, ensuring that our most vulnerable populations have access to the care they need. Right now, they are on the front lines of our national response to COVID-19. These providers rely on 340B savings to ensure access to care for low-income and rural patients. The recent actions undermine the intended purpose of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must take immediate action to stop these companies from either denying or limiting access to 340B pricing to hospitals, health centers, and clinics participating in 340B.
“Congress enacted 340B with strong bipartisan support more than 25 years ago to reduce drug costs for safety- net providers that care for vulnerable populations. Congress clearly stated the law’s purpose.”
To read the full letter, visit mckinley.house.gov/ uploadedfiles/congressional_ member_340b_letter_to_ azar_9.14.20.pdf
