[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Higher drug prices are a significant factor in many Illinois hospitals struggling to survive. An April 17 Crain’s article, “Drug and supply costs eat into Illinois hospital margins,” showed median year-to-date operating margins were negative 2% for Illinois hospitals in February, a decline from their January median year-to-date margins of negative 0.5%. Illinois hospitals’ gross operating revenue decreased 4.5% in February, while year-over-year expenses rose 5.3%, driven by a 10.5% increase in supply and drug costs.

Earlier this year, drugmakers planned to raise the U.S. prices of at least 350 branded medications, about 100 more than in 2025. In the article, Chicago-based healthcare data company Strata noted that operating margin pressure due to rising drug and supply costs is making hospital prospects for success “murky at best.”

Hospitals, like all Illinoisans, are feeling the effects of higher prices. Communities rely on their local hospitals for needed healthcare services 24/7. Likewise, hospitals serving many low-income and uninsured patients rely on the federal 340B program requiring drugmakers discount outpatient drugs sold to 340B providers.

Legislation to protect 340B from arbitrary drugmaker restrictions, House Bill 2371 SA 2, must pass this legislative session. Illinois’ 340B hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers are counting on House members to show up for them like they show up for their patients every day. Learn more.