Physician Poll finds USA's 340B program being inappropriately used

The USA-based non-profit Institute for Patient Access (IfPA) has released the results of a recent poll of physicians showing concern about the federal government’s 340B drug pricing program, which was designed to encourage care for indigent and underinsured patients but has instead ballooned into a revenue stream for growing hospital systems.

The IfPA's research was released in advance of Tuesday's hearing by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to examine oversight reports on the 340B program.

The 340B program also features prominently in President Donald Trump's newly-released “ Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices.” The President notes that “some hospitals that receive drug discounts under the 340B program… do not provide meaningful levels of charity care to low-income and vulnerable patients, ultimately pushing up drug prices for patients with private health insurance.”