- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
Investigating if 340B Led to Improved Care in Underserved Populations
In the years since its inception, debates around the 340B program have centered on whether savings actually benefit the underserved as intended. A new paper in The American Journal of Managed Care® analyzed secondary data on 340B participation and uncompensated care provision from general acute care and critical access hospitals between 2003 and 2015.
The 340 drug pricing program was first established in 1992 and allows participating hospitals to manufacture discounts on drugs used in an outpatient setting. In years since, federal agencies have clarified savings from the program should be directed at improving care for underserved patients. One method of doing this is providing uncompensated care, or charity care and other unreimbursed care, to uninsured or underinsured patients.
In the years since its inception, debates around the program have centered on whether savings actually benefit the underserved as intended.
To determine whether hospital provision of uncompensated care increased following hospital entry into the 340B program, Sunita M. Desai, PhD, and J. Michael McWilliams, MD, PhD, analyzed secondary data on 340B participation and uncompensated care provision from general acute care and critical access hospitals between 2003 and 2015.
Their study “340B Drug Pricing Program and Hospital Provision of Uncompensated Care,” was published in the October issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® and is now available online.
On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Desai discusses the study’s findings, what they mean, and next steps for the 340B program.
Listen above or through one of these podcast services:
Exploring Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Care Prior Authorization Decisions
October 24th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the author of a study published in the October 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® that explored prior authorization decisions in cancer care by race and ethnicity for commercially insured patients.
Listen
New Study Finds Risk Groups, Outpatient Care Barriers in Chronic Liver Disease
November 20th 2024Patients with chronic liver disease who were unable to establish care were 85% more likely to require recurrent hospitalizations. This group included a disproportionate number of women and individuals with physical limitations affecting their health.
Read More
