[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Big Pharma doesn’t want you to know this, but House Bill 2371 SA 2 contains NEW transparency requirements that Illinois hospitals agree with. 340B is too important to let attacks from Big Pharma detract from the real issues at hand. Many patients in Illinois need 340B to survive. The hospitals need it too, as they expect to lose up to $57 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade.

Reporting and audits—from patient data to charity care—are normal activities in hospitals. Ensuring 340B program integrity is no exception. Illinois hospitals consider the federal 340B program a critical resource that helps provide lifesaving medications and critical healthcare services to low-income and uninsured patients. Hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) invest savings from 340B discounted drugs into health services benefiting underserved communities.

Illinois hospitals are following the rules of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Rigorous audits are performed regularly on 340B providers, with HRSA auditors verifying program eligibility, internal controls and compliance. HRSA audits apply to drug manufacturers as well. They include determining “that the manufacturer provided 340B drugs at or below the 340B ceiling price to participating covered entities.” Drugmakers have been skirting that requirement by arbitrarily limiting hospitals and FQHCs to just one contract pharmacy. Yet, they continue to pedal false claims about hospital transparency.

HB 2371 SA 2 strengthens transparency and accountability while protecting the care communities rely on, proving that Illinois hospitals support oversight and stand firmly on the side of patients, not pharmaceutical profits.

Stand with patients, hospitals and FQHCs—Pass HB 2371 at NO cost to taxpayers and with NO needed budget appropriation. Learn more.