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Rural 340B Access Act of 2024
5/24/2024, 1:43 PM
Summary of Bill HR 8144
This bill specifically focuses on improving access to the 340B program for rural healthcare providers, who often face unique challenges in serving their communities. The bill includes provisions to streamline the enrollment process for rural providers, increase transparency and accountability in the program, and ensure that rural providers are able to fully benefit from the discounts offered through the 340B program.
Additionally, the bill includes measures to address concerns about the integrity of the program, such as requiring audits of participating providers and implementing penalties for non-compliance. The goal of these provisions is to ensure that the 340B program is being used effectively to improve access to affordable medications for rural patients. Overall, the Rural 340B Access Act of 2024 seeks to strengthen the 340B program and ensure that rural healthcare providers are able to fully participate in and benefit from the program, ultimately improving access to healthcare services for rural communities.
Congressional Summary of HR 8144
Rural 340B Access Act of 2024
This bill makes rural emergency hospitals (REHs) eligible to purchase drugs from manufacturers at discounted prices by participating in the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) 340B drug pricing program. HRSA’s 340B program requires drug manufacturers that participate in the Medicaid program to sell certain outpatient drugs at discounted prices to entities listed as eligible under current law. Additionally, in 2020, Congress established REHs as a new Medicare provider designation for hospitals in rural areas providing emergency department services, observation care, and other outpatient medical and health services for which the annual per patient average length of stay does not exceed 24 hours. The bill adds qualifying REHs to the list of entities that are eligible to participate in the 340B program.
