340B A Critical Program for Health Centers

The 340B Drug Pricing Program is an essential source of support for Community Health Centers, allowing them to stretch increasingly scarce federal resources and reinvest in patient care. The program allows health centers to purchase outpatient drugs at significantly reduced costs. Health centers pass the savings on to their patients through reduced drug prices and invest additional savings to expand access and improve health outcomes.

Health center patients include people living with HIV, people who have lost their jobs and health insurance in the economic decline, or even essential workers who test positive for COVID-19 but do not require hospitalization. The cost of medicines can easily push them further into poverty, disease, even death.

Current Threats to the 340B Program

NACHC is concerned about ongoing actions by drug companies that threaten patient access to critical medicines available through the federal 340B Program. These attacks have diverted savings away from patient care and into corporate pockets, ultimately tying the hands of health center doctors and other care providers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latest from NACHC about 340B

NACHC Urges Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to Reverse Harmful Restrictions: NACHC sent letters to Alkermes, Bausch+Lomb, Eli Lilly, and Sobi. (6/28/2024)

340B ACCESS Act Introduced in Congress: NACHC supports the new bill to reform and sustain the 340B program. View press release, Landmark Legislation Protects 340B for Community Health Center Patients, and blog. (5/29/2024)

Sign-On Letter: NACHC Letter to Senators about SUSTAIN 340B Request for Information (4/2/2024)

Blog: Saving 340B Needs to Happen ASAP

Advocacy Campaign: Visit our grassroots advocacy website to get involved in our campaign to #Save340B.

NACHC Partnership with ASAP340B

NACHC, alongside PhRMA, formed the Alliance to Save America’s 340B Program (ASAP 340B) to work towards a congressional solution to clarify parts of the 340B program. This partnership, which also includes patient, provider, and consumer advocates, aims to ensure the 340B program supports true safety-net providers and the communities they serve. NACHC is excited to work collaboratively to find solutions for all stakeholders in the 340B program.

Learn more about ASAP 340B and the group’s policy principles.

Additional 340B Resources

For additional 340B Drug Pricing Program resources, visit our 340B resources page, or check out our Health Center Advocacy Network website to guide your 340B advocacy efforts.