Terry Wilcox, co-founder and Chief Mission Officer of Patients Rising, has expressed concerns regarding the 340B Drug Pricing Program. In a post on X, she said that the program "is running like a cash cow" for many nonprofit hospitals and that "patients are getting screwed" by their collection practices.
"Totally understand it's not in the law — but it should be, so my true point is this thing is running like a cash cow for many (not all) nonprofit hospitals," said Wilcox, Co-Founder & Chief Mission Officer. "Patients are getting screwed when it comes to their collection practices. Patients should know if they are 340B patients and if they should get something for being the actual conduit making hospitals thousands and thousands of dollars."
The 340B Drug Pricing Program was established under Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act. It allows eligible healthcare organizations to purchase outpatient drugs at discounted prices from manufacturers. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) manages eligibility and participation, overseeing registration and compliance for covered entities nationwide.
According to a 2024 article published in JAMA Health Forum, hospital participation in the 340B program has increased significantly. However, the benefits to low-income patients remain unclear. The analysis indicated that many hospitals receiving 340B discounts provided similar levels of uncompensated care as non-participating hospitals, raising questions about the program's impact on patients.
A study published in Health Affairs Scholar in 2024 found that financial gains from the 340B program are often retained by hospital systems rather than being directly used to improve patient care. The authors concluded that increased transparency is essential to ensure that program savings fulfill the original intent of expanding access and affordability for vulnerable patients.
Wilcox is known for her role as Co-Founder and Chief Mission Officer of Patients Rising, a national nonprofit advocating for patient access to affordable care. Her advocacy began with the video series Understanding Cancer and continued through a decade at the cancer nonprofit Vital Options. She co-founded Patients Rising in 2015 to elevate patient stories in health policy debates. Her commentary has appeared in publications such as The Hill, Chicago Tribune, and Fortune.
