VA Prescription Drug Gouging (WRP & CUTS) RH - TUE MID & PM
VA Prescription Drug Gouging w/audio (WRP & CUTS) RH
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>>Report: Patients Spend 2.5 Times More on Meds at 340b Program Hospitals, Health Centers
(Undated) -- Imagine paying $33 hundred dollars for a popular prescription drug, that costs just a dollar-20. That’s what Virginia patients and their health plans are doing, according to a new report from 46-brooklyn. More from Rebecca Hughes.Preview: Wrap Script:
Health Policy Expert Anthony Ciaccia [[cha-cha]] says lawmakers created the 340b program as a way to extend the deep discounts on prescription drugs given to the Medicaid program to hospitals and federally qualified health centers.Preview: He says part of the controversy is whether the hospitals are using every dollar from those sales to provide cost-free care to those who need it. But also ...Preview: Ciaccia says ultimately this leaves the patient and their employer over-paying thousands of dollars.
**OPTIONAL TAG: You can hear the entire interview and learn more on the iHeart app or iHeart dot com on the Virginia Focus Podcast. **
Additional Audio:
A new report shows Virginia patients and their employers spending billions on medication sold under a federal program created with good intentions, but poorly executed.Preview: 46brooklyn CEO Anthony Ciaccia [[cha-cha]] says the 340b program deeply discounts medications that hospitals purchase and then sell on the open market at full price or more and the intention is that they use the money made to offer cost-free healthcare for those who can't afford it. He says not only are patients and businesses paying 2 point 5 higher prices at 340b institutions for medications but it's not known if the hospitals are actually using the money as intended.