340B Drug Discount Program
The Facts About an Essential Program for Hospitals Across Kentucky
- The 340B Drug Discount Program is a federal program but states have the authority to control drug distribution within their borders.
- Multiple states have passed laws to require drug companies to distribute prescription drugs at the federally agreed price to covered hospitals, primary care clinics, and their contract pharmacies because drug companies have refused to deliver these medications.
- When other states receive the discount rate but Kentucky doesn’t, Kentucky’s hospitals, primary care clinics, and their contract pharmacies pay higher prices for prescription drugs resulting in fewer services for patients.
- Kentucky needs legislation to ensure that Kentucky hospitals, primary care clinics, and their contract pharmacies are not treated differently than those in other states.
- NO STATE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE USED IN THIS PROGRAM. The only federal funds used in the program are for its oversight by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The program is funded by the drug companies.
- Drug companies DO NOT GIVE the prescription medications to the hospital for free. They sell the medications to the hospital for the same price as they sell them to their best customers.
- LAWMAKERS HAVE A CHOICE, stand with their local hospital, primary care clinic, their contract pharmacies, and their patients OR with multinational drug manufacturers.
The 340B Program Is Essential to the
Patients of Kentucky
The 340B program is essential to the patients of 73 Kentucky safety net hospitals. The program allows hospitals to purchase outpatient drugs at a discount and use the savings to maintain and expand access to health care services in their patients. No taxpayer money is used for the program. (2024)
KHA’s Senior Vice President of Policy & Government Relations Jim Musser discusses the 340B prescription drug program. (September 2024)
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