New York state lawmakers are considering a bill that'd make it easier for big hospital systems to siphon off financial aid that's meant for poor patients.
The bill involves the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a federal initiative created more than three decades ago to help low-income patients. Unfortunately, it has morphed into a scheme that primarily benefits large hospital systems and unaccountable middlemen instead of vulnerable communities.
As a physician and former governor, I've spent my career working to ensure that all patients get the care they deserve. That's why it's so frustrating to watch a well-intended program morph into a lucrative revenue stream for the most powerful healthcare special interests in the country.
Under 340B, eligible hospitals and community health centers ca