Danea Horn, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, said that the 340B program has not been associated with improved mortality outcomes for low-income patients. This statement was made in a publication on ScienceDirect.
"The 340B program is not associated with an improvement in mortality for low-income patients," said Horn.
The 340B Drug Pricing Program was established by Congress in 1992 to assist covered healthcare entities in stretching federal resources and providing more comprehensive services. Over time, the program has expanded significantly, including an increase in the number of covered entities and contract pharmacies. Policymakers have raised concerns about transparency and whether the program’s benefits are reaching the intended low-income patient populations.
A study published in 2023 in Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology found that participation in the 340B program did not lead to statistically significant improvements in mortality rates for low-income patients. The analysis examined outcomes across multiple health systems and questioned the program’s effectiveness in achieving its intended public health goals. The study concluded that financial incentives alone might not be sufficient to improve health outcomes.
According to a 2024 report from the House Oversight Committee, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) use complex pricing practices that can distort market competition and inflate costs for patients. The report detailed how PBMs profit from spread pricing, rebate arrangements, and steering prescriptions to their affiliated pharmacies. These practices have contributed to reduced access for small and independent pharmacies.
Horn is a researcher at the Center for Translational and Policy Research on Precision Medicine (TRANSPERS) at the University of California, San Francisco. She earned her PhD from the University of California, Davis, and was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University, focusing on health policy and innovation. In 2013, she authored "Chronic Resilience," which explored patient experiences with the healthcare system.
