Impact of 340B drug pricing program on specialty medication access: A policy analysis and future directions
1 Independent Researcher, Boston, MA, USA.
2 Life's Journey Inc. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
3 School of Nursing, University of Akron, USA.
4 Mediclinic Hospital Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
5 Independent Researcher, Nebraska, USA.
Review Article
Magna Scientia Advanced Biology and Pharmacy, 2024, 13(01), 010–018
Article DOI: 10.30574/msabp.2024.13.1.0054
Publication history:
Received on 03 August 2024; revised on 10 September 2024; accepted on 13 September 2024
Abstract:
The 340B Drug Pricing Program, initially designed to assist healthcare providers in offering affordable medications to vulnerable populations, has increasingly come under scrutiny, particularly concerning its impact on specialty medication access. This review critically examines the program’s effectiveness in improving access to high-cost specialty drugs, highlighting significant challenges such as program misalignment, economic pressures, and criticisms from the pharmaceutical industry. It further explores the regulatory landscape, stakeholder perspectives, and ethical considerations that shape the program’s implementation. The paper proposes reforms to refine eligibility criteria, enhance transparency, and adjust pricing structures to serve better patients needing specialty medications. Additionally, it discusses innovative strategies like digital health integration and industry partnerships that could enhance the program’s efficacy. The long-term implications of these proposed changes on healthcare systems, patients, and the pharmaceutical industry are considered, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to sustain the 340B program’s mission in the evolving healthcare environment.
Keywords:
340B Drug Pricing Program; Specialty Medications; Healthcare Policy; Program Reform; Pharmaceutical Industry; Patient Access
Full text article in PDF:
Copyright information:
Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0