'How 3 health systems are leveraging 340B savings'

 Health systems across the country are reinvesting 340B savings into programs that help expand access to care, support vulnerable populations and ensure medications remain affordable. 

Three pharmacy leaders shared with Becker’s how they are using these savings to boost health initiatives by answering the question: What is one way your health system has reinvested 340B savings? 

Wayne Bohenek, PharmD. Chief Officer of Ancillary Services at Bon Secours Mercy Health (Cincinnati): The 340B program enables Bon Secours Mercy Health to provide vital patient care services that are essential for supporting vulnerable patients and the communities we serve. The program helps cover the costs of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare services, including medication management clinics, retail and charitable pharmacies, patient assistance programs that aid patients with high-cost medications, as well as primary and cancer care, behavioral health services, and a range of preventative care initiatives. Without this federal program, Bon Secours Mercy Health would struggle to sustain these services in many of our communities.

We strongly encourage policymakers to strengthen the 340B program to help hospitals maximize their limited resources, ensuring they can continue to serve vulnerable populations, keep their doors open and provide essential medications and services.

Bon Secours Mercy Health remains committed to full compliance with 340B regulatory requirements and invests substantial resources to ensure that we meet all necessary standards while continuing to deliver on our mission to care for those in need.

Nilesh Desai. Chief Pharmacy Officer at Baptist Health (Louisville, Ky.): We use 340B savings to subsidize essential programs that expand access to care and support patients closer to home — services like medication therapy management, hepatitis C treatment and cardio-rheumatology clinics — which are vital to our mission of improving community health.

Mike Wascovich, PharmD. Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at Ascension (St. Louis): Ensuring our patients have access to lifesaving medications through our Ascension pharmacies, and the Dispensary of Hope is one of the many ways we deliver on our mission to serve all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Ascension ministries actively participate in the 340B program, with 44 hospitals using savings to expand access to care and enhance community services. These savings support various initiatives, including medication affordability programs across 11 states, providing over 80,000 prescription fills to more than 10,000 unique patients each year.

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/how-3-health-systems-are-leveraging-340b-savings/