Hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program report new data on how they use their savings from prescription drug price discounts to maintain or expand patient care, to support uncompensated care for patients living with low incomes, and in the case of rural hospitals, to keep their doors open in an era of frequent closures.

A survey of nearly 500 hospitals participating in 340B found that their annual program savings vary based on hospital size. For small, rural hospitals, median savings were $564,000, while disproportionate share (DSH) hospitals had median savings of $8.9 million. The largest savings were reported by a relatively small number of children’s hospitals, with a median of $12.6 million.

Hospitals that qualify for 340B status can obtain discounts on many outpatient prescription drugs to treat their patients with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions. These hospitals use those savings to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services. The program, created in 1992, uses no tax dollars to support the care being provided. Savings come from discounts provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers.

“Congress created 340B for a specific reason, to make sure safety-net hospitals, health centers, and clinics are there to care for patients who cannot afford their care,” said Maureen Testoni, president and CEO of 340B Health, which conducted the survey. “340B hospitals are on the front lines of caring for people in need, whether in the face of global pandemic or chronic disease, so that patients can live fuller lives.”

Hospitals also report that they use 340B savings to dispense free or low-cost drugs, combat the opioid epidemic, and improve health outcomes for their patients, including though improved medication adherence, increased access to care, and reduced readmissions.

340B is particularly critical to rural hospitals. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in five Americans live in rural areas, many of which are sparsely populated and far from urban centers. Over the past decade, more than 120 rural hospitals have closed. Nearly three-quarters of small critical access hospitals (CAHs) report that 340B savings are a key element to maintaining their operations. More than a third of CAHs reported using their 340B benefits to support telemedicine programs. More than half (57%) of rural hospital respondents reported that a loss of 340B savings could force them to close.

More broadly, hospitals reported that a loss of some or all of their 340B savings would force them to reduce their provision of uncompensated care, including the free or low-cost drugs they offer to patients who can’t otherwise afford them. Hospitals also indicated that they likely would have to cut back certain clinical areas, including treatment for cancer, diabetes, mental health and substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS, if their 340B savings were scaled back.

“This report provides more clear evidence of the critical role 340B savings play in providing care for patients in need. Hospitals are fulfilling the mission set out by the enactment of the 340B statute in documented ways that contribute to the continuing, broad, bipartisan support for the program,” Testoni said.

Read the report and see our infographic summarizing the key findings.

St. Luke’s Miners Campus Hospital in Coaldale, Pennsylvania is one of the few hospitals with a Primary Stroke Center, Accredited Chest Pain Center, Level IV Trauma Center, and CMS 4 star rated hospital, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. In partnership with ARC and the Federal Highway Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (PA DCED), and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA), St. Luke’s Miners Campus Hospital will foresee construction to improve access to the building including narrowing and repaving connecting roadways to reduce speeds, building a pedestrian walking route and installing a transit bus shelter. In addition to making the hospital easier and safer to access, the project will prepare 15 acres of adjoining, undeveloped land for the construction of two new buildings for medical offices and clinical services. These improvements are projected to create and/or retain nearly 400 jobs.

“We are growing and are excited to work with Coaldale Borough, NEPA and the Appalachian Regional Commission to improve access to our small rural hospital. This project is so important as more people are coming from all over northeastern Pennsylvania for St. Luke’s Miners Campus’ nationally recognized care and highly engaged clinical teams,” said Wendy Lazo President of St. Luke’s Miners Campus.

Click here to view the map full size.

U.S. Census Bureau Director, Steven Dillingham, recently provided updates to its operational plans including hiring employees to accelerate the delivery of data by the December 31, 2020 deadline.

Census taker will begin to interview households in select areas that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. For Pennsylvania, those areas include areas managed by the following area census offices: Allentown, Norristown, Philly Franklin, Philly Penn, and Reading.

The U.S. Census Bureau has begun to email households in low response areas to encourage their response. Millions of emails are planned to be sent through September.

New data are available from the Household Pulse Survey, the result of an effort by the Bureau and other federal statistical agencies, to document trends in how individuals are affected by the pandemic.

Follow response rates to the 2020 Census with the U.S. Census Bureau’s Response Rates page. Or check out the Hard To Count 2020 tool created by SUNY’s Center for Urban Research which has a variety of other useful data in addition to response rates.

Avoid fraud and scams related to the 2020 Census by reviewing these tips from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The figure below, produced by the CUNY Mapping Service at the Center for Urban Research, CUNY Graduate Center, shows the difference between the current 2020 Census response rate and the 2010 Census response rate. See attached document for higher resolution image. While Pennsylvania, has fewer red counties, representing differences of 10 percentage points or more, than some other states, it does have five counties that fall within this range, including: Cameron, Jefferson, Montour, Philadelphia, and Tioga.

Census2020_Counties_July29vs2010

As of the end of July, Pennsylvania ranks 17th in the nation for its current 2020 Census response rate (66.0%). The five counties with the lowest response rates in Pennsylvania include: Forest (25.9%), Sullivan (30.6%), Pike (38.4%), Cameron (41.9%), and Wayne (45.7%). Those with the highest response rates include Bucks (75.3%), Lancaster (74.7%), Chester (74.6%), Montgomery (74.0%), and Cumberland (73.5%).

For more information on response rates, visit: https://www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us/