I attended a conference on the 340B program. The program is much more complicated than I understood. I had the opportunity to learn from professors, lawyers, and prescription drug manufacturers about the program. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about this program and what it offers to the rural areas of our nation.
“The 340B program, named after its federal statute, lets eligible hospitals and clinics buy drugs at a discount and then bill insurance companies, Medicare, or Medicaid at market rates. Hospitals get to keep the money they make from the difference.” The program was designed to save rural hospitals. Emergency hospitals are not eligible to participate in the 340 B program. This rule may be interfering with other government programs trying to encourage rural hospitals to convert to emergency hospitals.
The government wants to promote the designation of rural hospitals as emergency hospitals to ensure that essential medical services are available to residents of rural or underserved areas. The goals are to make sure people have access to care, lower health disparities, promote economic stability and reduce the burden on urban hospitals. Unfortunately, not allowing emergency hospitals to participate in 340B program makes rural hospitals choose not to convert to emergency hospitals.
