Act Now: What the 340B Patients Act Means for Healthcare Access

The 340B PATIENTS Act is fundamentally at odds with the core principles espoused by BlackDoctor.org (BDO). We urge a collective response to oppose this act, which threatens to entrench one of the most commonly misconstrued aspects of the 340B program—contract pharmacies. This legislation prioritizes not the patient but a system lacking necessary transparency and protection for those it is meant to serve.BDO continuously identifies issues regarding transparency that remain inadequately addressed. Contract pharmacies, primarily retail or mail-order outlets serving hospitals, have increasingly dominated the 340B landscape. Yet, the expected benefits for low-income and uninsured individuals have not materialized. Profits generated from these arrangements have surged, averaging a striking 72% margin in 2023, accumulating over $64 billion.Unfortunately, patients see none of these financial benefits. The systemic inequity is evident, as research indicates that contract pharmacy proliferation has disproportionately favored affluent neighborhoods while neglecting economically disadvantaged Black communities. We require genuine reform that demands accountability and ensures patient benefits, unlike the 340B PATIENTS Act, which merely supports the status quo.