Ryan Long, a senior fellow at the Paragon Health Institute, has called for reforms to the 340B Drug Pricing Program. He said that the program's current design allows wealthier hospitals to benefit more than safety-net providers. This statement was made on X.
"This a 340B hospital," said Long. "A program designed to help poor hospitals. The poor design of the program allows wealthier hospitals to build this definition of first class while poorer hospitals get relatively little. Program needs real reform."
The national debate over the 340B Drug Pricing Program has intensified since 2023, as Congress and regulators examine its expansion and oversight gaps. According to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, an October 2025 hearing reviewed the program's growth and impact on patients. Proposals were made for stronger reporting on savings use, clarified child-site rules, and improved accountability measures while maintaining safety-net goals.
The Commonwealth Fund reports that the 340B program continues to grow rapidly, with billions in discounted drug purchases. In 2023 alone, covered entities bought $66.3 billion in discounted outpatient drugs through nearly 42,000 organizations and 53,000 care sites nationwide. This underscores its vast scale and has prompted federal calls for greater transparency.
Evidence comparing 340B and non-340B hospitals remains mixed. According to JAMA Health Forum, a review conducted in 2023 found that some 340B hospitals show higher charity-care and discounted-care rates while others display no significant differences. This suggests that the program’s impact on low-income patients varies widely.
Long serves as Director of Congressional Relations and Senior Research Fellow at Paragon Health Institute, focusing on market-based health reform and drug-pricing policy. He joined Paragon in 2025 after more than 25 years on Capitol Hill, including a role as Senior Policy Advisor to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Paragon Health Institute is a Washington D.C.–based nonprofit founded in 2021 to advance market-driven solutions for U.S. health policy. Led by President Brian Blase, it conducts research on Medicaid, Medicare, and public-health reform aimed at improving affordability and competition.
