MATSUI STATEMENT ON PROPOSAL TO CHANGE 340B PROGRAM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) issued the following statement after a coalition of pharmaceutical companies and health centers released their proposal for changes to the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
“The 340B program has long been a lifeline delivering vital prescription drugs to low-income patients across the nation,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Americans shouldn’t have to choose between their prescription drugs and their daily essentials. Yet, we know that skyrocketing drug prices are chipping away at too many families’ financial wellbeing. That’s why I have long fought to protect the 340B program and its core mission – to provide low-cost access to prescription drugs for our most vulnerable Americans. However, this new proposal from ASAP 340B would play right into the hands of its authors, the drug manufacturers, and put money back into the pockets of Big Pharma.”
“Congress enacted 340B with strong bipartisan support more than 30 years ago to ensure that we reach as many patients in need as possible,” Matsui continued. “While we don’t yet have all the details about this deal, I am very concerned about any potential proposal that would undercut the efficacy of the program by excluding people who rely on these drugs and critical safety net providers, who play an essential role in providing care to low-income and underserved populations. This latest attack on the 340B program underscores our need to work together to strengthen the program, not further undermine it by sacrificing benefits for vulnerable patients. I will always put patients first and stand up for our safety net providers.”
Under the 340B program, drug manufacturers agree to provide outpatient drugs at a discount to safety-net providers that serve our most vulnerable Americans, including low-income Medicare, Medicaid and Supplemental Security Insurance patients. These providers include Medicare disproportionate share (“DSH”) hospitals, children’s hospitals, free-standing cancer hospitals, and rural hospitals.
Congresswoman Matsui has long led efforts to support the 340B Program. In May 2021, she introduced a bipartisan bill to provide temporary waivers for certain 340B program eligibility requirements due to the COVID-19 health emergency. She has also led a series of letters concerning drug manufacturers denying 340B discount prices to covered entities that use contract pharmacies, most recently in March 2021.
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