Families pay more as hospitals turn 340B into a profit engine Shawn Gremminger

The 340B Drug Pricing Program was created to help a targeted group of safety net providers care for low-income and uninsured patients. First enacted as part of the Veterans Healthcare Act of 1992, that mission has since been undermined by profiteering from corporate hospital systems and healthcare conglomerates who exploit the program to boost revenue. What began as targeted support for the most vulnerable communities has grown into a multibillion-dollar operation that raises costs for employers and working families.

A recent analysis from the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions reveals that large hospitals in the 340B program charge commercial plans an average of 7.6% more than their non-340B counterparts, resulting in $36 billion in excess costs each year. The extra