Show-Me State Times

Terry Wilcox, Co-founder and Chief Mission Officer of Patients Rising, has raised concerns about the 340B Drug Pricing Program, stating that it is being exploited by hospitals and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). She warned that upcoming congressional legislation might exacerbate these issues. Wilcox made this statement on X.

"The 340B program was meant to help vulnerable patients afford medicine," said Wilcox. "Instead, hospitals and PBMs pocket billions in discounts while patients pay full price. Now, Congress is considering a bill to make 340B abuses even WORSE!"

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the 340B Drug Pricing Program was established in 1992 to enable eligible healthcare providers to purchase outpatient drugs at reduced prices. The program aims to extend limited federal resources to serve more patients and offer more comprehensive services. However, oversight challenges have led to increased scrutiny regarding the distribution of the program's benefits.

A 2024 white paper from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics indicated that between 2013 and 2020, total gross profits from the 340B Drug Pricing Program increased from $2.4 billion to $10.8 billion. During this period, 340B hospitals expanded their use of contract pharmacies by 250%. The report found minimal evidence that these profits were consistently utilized to enhance care for vulnerable patients.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) reported that in Missouri, 42 hospitals participate in the 340B program, maintaining over 1,400 contracts with pharmacies nationwide. Only 22% of these contract pharmacies are situated in medically underserved areas. Furthermore, it was noted that 79% of participating hospitals in Missouri provide charity care below the national average, prompting questions about whether the program effectively serves its intended populations.

Wilcox is a prominent figure in patient advocacy as Co-founder and Chief Mission Officer of Patients Rising, an organization she launched in 2015 to amplify patient voices in healthcare policy discussions. Her advocacy work began with producing an online cancer series and continued at Vital Options as creative director. Her insights have been featured in national media outlets such as Fortune, The Hill, and the Boston Globe.