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Sunday, December 22, 2024

14 Vermont hospitals participate in federal 340B Drug Pricing Program

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HRSA Administrator Carol Johnson | Health Resources and Services Administration

HRSA Administrator Carol Johnson | Health Resources and Services Administration

There are 14 Vermont hospitals participating in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.

This program is a federal initiative that enables eligible hospitals and healthcare organizations to purchase outpatient medications at significantly discounted prices.

Established in 1992, the program aims to provide financial relief to healthcare providers serving vulnerable populations, allowing them to stretch their scarce resources and reach more eligible patients.

Hospitals participating in the 340B program can use the savings to fund essential services and programs, such as free or low-cost medication assistance, expanded access to healthcare, and community outreach initiatives.

Participating hospitals, however, "often extend their 340B discounts to clinics in well-off communities, where they can charge privately insured patients more than those on Medicaid,” reported the Wall Street Journal.

"In some cases, the program appears to be bolstering profits in well-off areas more than it is underwriting services in less-privileged neighborhoods,” said the Journal article.

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced a bill in 2023 that he said would ensure "that organizations are transparent about how they use resources from” the 340B program.

"The 340B Drug Pricing Program is supposed to help low-income and uninsured Americans afford their medicine, but some are taking advantage of the program at the expense of vulnerable patients,” said Kennedy.

Which Vermont hospitals participate in the 340B program?

HospitalCity
Brattleboro Memorial HospitalBrattleboro
Central Vermont Medical CenterBerlin
Copley HospitalMorrisville
Gifford Medical CenterRandolph
Grace Cottage HospitalTownshend
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health CenterWindsor
North Country Hospital and Health CenterNewport
Northeastern Vermont Regional HospitalSt. Johnsbury
Northwestern Medical CenterSt. Albans
Porter HospitalMiddlebury
Rutland Regional Medical CenterRutland
Southwestern Vermont Medical CenterBennington
Springfield HospitalSpringfield
University of Vermont Medical CenterBurlington

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