340B Program
340B: A Federal Program Supporting Safety-Net Providers
The 340B prescription drug program supports our role as a safety-net provider in offering vital healthcare services for the community we serve. The program is narrowly tailored to only hospitals that provide a high level of services to low-income individuals or serve isolated rural communities.
340B by the numbers (fiscal year 2021)
- $1,000,000 - Approximate annual 340B savings that benefit Valley Presbyterian Hospital (VPH) patients.
- 64.82% - VPH's Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH*) percentage.
Benefits of the 340B program
The 340B Program affords patients the high quality care they deserve, no matter their income level or insurance coverage. The cost savings from reduced drug pricing represent a key factor in enabling VPH to provide an array of needed services to the community we serve, including:
- Access to specialty care not otherwise available to many low-income individuals in the community
- Clinical pharmacy services, such as disease management programs
- Mental health services
- Transportation to needy patients allowing them access to essential health care services
- Free vaccinations and health screening for vulnerable populations
- New community outreach programs
Impact if the 340B Program were scaled back
Scaling back the 340B Program would jeopardize VPH’s capacity to offer all the services mentioned above to our patients.
*DSH hospitals such as Valley Presbyterian Hospital serve a significantly disproportionate number of low income patients and receive payments from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to cover costs of providing care to uninsured and under-insured patients.
