340B Drug Pricing Program Contributes to Rising Healthcare Costs and Is Ripe for Reform
The U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee today will host the third hearing in its health care affordability series, specifically examining the role providers and hospitals play in shaping the cost of care for Americans.
While the hearing will likely examine numerous issues, there is none more ripe for reform than the flawed 340B drug pricing program.
Originally enacted to help eligible safety-net providers buy medicines at steep discounts and pass the savings on to lower-income and vulnerable patients, the program has ballooned as a revenue stream for many participating hospitals and contract pharmacy chains.
As the size and complexity of the 340B program has expanded, participating hospitals and contract pharmacies have instead used the program to increase…[more]
President Donald Trump met with reporters in Scotland Monday to tout his new trade deal with the European Union. Accompanied by United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump held court for more than an hour taking questions on trade, China, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and more.
One subject that barely came up, about 50 minutes into the news conference, was the dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Spoiler alert: No news was made on that front.
If you follow things, you're probably seeing a lot of stories suggesting some sort of undefined scandal involving Trump and Epstein, who were friends…