Rural hospitals and community health providers rely on the 340B drug pricing program to keep care affordable and accessible for patients in need. These savings allow providers to reduce prescription costs, expand services, and care for more Mainers. As we consider changes to the 340B program, we must preserve the flexibility that allows providers to use these savings to meet local needs, especially at a time when so many of our rural health providers are struggling. At a Health Committee hearing

340B was created to support patients, but instead, it’s being exploited to increase profits for hospitals. | PhRMA

The federal 340B program requires drug makers to sell their products to some hospitals at a discount. Hospitals and contract pharmacies can then resell them and pocket the difference. It’s a case of the government picking winners (hospitals) and losers (drug manufacturers) among private market participants. Hospitals argue that they need the money to help patients. That is, they use the extra revenue from the program to cut costs or provide free care for those in need. But Jarrett Skorup of the