Drug pricing program

Peter Pitts (“Fixing drug program can make big difference for struggling patients,” March 30) grossly misrepresents the statutory purpose of the 340B drug pricing program and calls for major rollbacks that would reduce the reach of this vital health care program. Congress created 340B in 1992 with bipartisan legislation signed by President George H.W. Bush to help safety-net hospitals, community health centers and public health clinics “stretch their scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.”

However, Pitts incorrectly describes 340B as a program merely to provide lower-priced drugs to “uninsured and low-income populations.” 340B hospitals do provide patients in need with free or low-cost drugs, but the congressional intent for 340B is much more comprehensive. Savings from drug company discounts — not taxpayer dollars — support expanded care for millions of low-income patients and those who live in rural communities where care is scarce. 340B hospitals provide 60% of all uncompensated care and 75% of all hospital care for people on Medicaid. To participate, a hospital must be nonprofit and meet stringent requirements to serve a disproportionate number of lowincome patients.

To suggest that imposing new limits on 340B hospital eligibility would be “mere tweaks” is disingenuous. Cutting back this program is the wrong approach and doing so during a pandemic would be especially harmful to patients.

— Maureen Testoni, 340B Health President and CEO, Washington, D.C.