The AAMC and American Hospital Association (AHA) sent an Oct. 5 letter to Energy and Commerce Chair Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), as well as Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) expressing support for the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
The letter provides background information about the 340B program and highlights examples of how participating hospitals use the savings from the program to support underserved patients in their community, including assisting low income patients with free outpatient drugs and providing pharmacist counseling services for medication therapy disease management.
Additionally, the letter notes, “Of key importance, is the fact that the 340B program is not federally funded and has enabled hospitals and health systems to support and expand access and services consistent with their mission and the program’s original and ongoing charge.”
The Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold an Oct. 11 hearing on the 340B program. This is a follow-up the Subcommittee’s July 18 hearing [see Washington Highlights, July 21].