July 16, 2013— Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) received the 340B Coalition’s Lifetime Achievement Award yesterday during a ceremony opening the group’s 17th Annual Conference, held in Washington, D.C. The coalition represents safety-net health care providers that participate in the 340B drug discount program.[ms-protect-content id=”2799″]
Senator Harkin, who chairs both the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, “has been a longtime supporter of the 340B program and other health care programs that improve and expand services to medically underserved and disadvantaged populations,” the coalition said in presenting the award.
“I have followed this program since its inception and for the last two decades it has played an indispensable part in health care,” the senator said upon receiving the award. “I know for the 81 hospitals, 12 community health centers, the family planning centers and other clinics in my home state of Iowa that participate in 340B, the affordable drugs made available through this program helps these institutions continue their mission of proving high quality care to underserved patients.”
“That’s what this program is really about,” he continued. “It’s about enabling these health care providers that often operate on the slimmest of margins to continue seeing low-income and vulnerable patients.”
Senator Harkin noted that the fiscal 2014 spending bill for federal health programs that the Appropriations Committee passed last week would authorize a 0.1 percent user fee on 340B drug purchases. In the accompanying report on the bill, the panel said “the first activity funded by the fee” should be the creation of a secure web site to make 340B ceiling prices available to covered entities.
“This is one case where a little bit of sunshine would do a world of good,” Senator Harkin said. “You need to know if you’re paying more for 340B drugs than you should. A discount doesn’t do you a lot of good if it’s not really offered.” He also said he supports the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) increased oversight of covered entities.
Representatives of the coalition’s member groups praised the Senator for championing the 340B program over the years.
“In 1992, Senator Harkin supported the bill that brought 340B into existence and nearly 20 years later he fought to expand 340B to rural safety-net hospitals and improve program administration,” said Ted Slafsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access (SNHPA). “As a result of his leadership, hospitals in remote areas can now better reach their patients with affordable health care.”
“Senator Harkin has been a tireless supporter of the federally qualified health center program,” said Roger Schwartz, Vice President of Executive Branch Liaison and Legislative counsel for the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). “The 340B program makes it feasible for health centers to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical services. NACHC appreciates the Senator’s enduring commitment to 340B, the health center program, and to the vulnerable and underserved patients who benefit from these invaluable programs.”
“Thanks to Senator Harkin’s commitment to 340B, vulnerable patients today have access to the medications they need to maintain good health,” said Dr. Bruce Siegel, President and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals (formerly the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems). “The 340B program helps hospitals maintain and expand services to the disadvantaged. We applaud Senator Harkin for his leadership as a longtime advocate of this essential program.”
“We are very appreciative of the hard work, dedication, and support for the comprehensive hemophilia treatment centers of the five time Senator from Cumming, Iowa,” said Joe Pugliese, President of The Hemophilia Alliance.[/ms-protect-content]