Congress expresses bipartisan support for the 340B Program
This week more than 200 bipartisan House Members sent a letter to CMS administrator Seema Verma to support the 340B Drug Discount Program and encouraging CMS to abandon the “misguided” and “flawed” policy proposed in the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). NRHA supports the 340B Drug Payment Program which supports rural Americans access to local health care including affordable medications at eligible rural hospitals and other eligible entitles such as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).
NRHA applauds the House lawmakers that signed this letter specifically expressing concern on the impact of rural hospital’s ability to provide “necessary services to…rural communities.”
NRHA opposed the change in the NPRM, which threatens the sustainability of the rural safety net, especially in light of the rural hospital closure crisis. Concerningly, the proposal directly threatened rural PPS hospitals, which already account for 65% of the eighty-two rural hospitals already closed. Additionally, many of the third of all remaining rural hospitals vulnerable to closure rely upon the 340B program to allow them to continue to provide necessary care to their rural communities.
NRHA continues to meet with Members of Congress and the Trump Administration, but we need you! Please share a picture and tell the story of what the 340B program means to your rural hospital and community and help NRHA make your voice…louder. Please email pictures and stories to dc@nrharural.org. Reach out to your member of Congress and let them know how important the 340B program is to the patients of your community.