The Issue in Maine
For over 30 years, the 340B Program has increased access to care for rural and underserved communities. Efforts to restrict this program only serve to increase profitsfor pharmaceutical companies at the expense of patient care across Maine.
The 340B drug pricing program was established to help safety-net providers like Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and hospitals that support rural populations stretch scarce federal resources to provide more comprehensive services and reach more eligible patients in rural and underserved areas. The program requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to sell certain outpatient drugs to safety-net providers at a discount who then re-invest these savings into patient services and charity care. Drug companies – not taxpayers nor the government – cover the cost of this program.
Health centers pass the savings on to their patients through reduced drug prices and invest additional savings to expand access and improve health outcomes. FQHCs are required – by statute and regulation, as well as by mission – to invest all 340B savings into activities that support their Federally-approved goal of expanding access to care for medically-underserved patients.
Coalition to Protect Health Care for Rural and Underserved Communities
Ongoing actions by pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers are diverting savings away from patient care and into corporate pockets. State legislatures across the country are taking action to ensure that the health care safety net can continue to access this program.
Maine Primary Care Association, Maine Hospital Association, Maine Society of Health System Pharmacists and Maine Pharmacy Association have joined together to support LD 1018, An Act to Protect Health Care for Rural and Underserved Areas by Prohibiting Discrimination by Participants in a Federal Drug Discount Program and fight back against efforts by pharmaceutical manufacturers to restrict access to this critical program in Maine. Over the past five years, more than 35 pharmaceutical manufacturers have placed several restrictive and discriminatory requirements on 340B entities, resulting in millions in lost savings for Maine’s safety-net providers. This legislation addresses these common tactics and protects the health care safety net in Maine - at no cost to the taxpayer or government.
Coalition Website
Our 340B coalition has launched a new website to support our advocacy efforts in Maine. It contains important information about the 340B program, how it is used in Maine, myths vs. facts, impact stories and much more! Be sure to check it our here.
Media Coverage
- Maine’s health centers and hospitals rely on federal drug pricing program – Press Herald (4/24/25)
- State Sen. Baldacci: 340B reform ‘could help hospitals alone to the tune of 50 to 70 million per year' – Patient Daily (4/23/25)
- Public reacts to bill looking to benefit underserved healthcare providers – WABI (4/16/25)
- Maine health care providers clash with pharmaceutical industry over discount drug program – Press Herald (4/14/25)
- The 340B drug pricing program is a lifeline for Maine’s struggling health care providers – Bangor Daily News (4/7/25)
- Maine, Mass. Introduce 340B Contract Pharmacy Access Bills; Mass. Also Introduces Separate Provider Reporting Legislation – 340B Report (3/18/25)
- New bill would protect federal program providing lower cost prescriptions to rural Mainers – Fox23 (1/30/25)
- Maine health groups push for law to protect access to discount drug program – Press Herald (1/30/25)
- Democrats and Republicans unite on bill to defend drug pricing program – Newscenter Maine (1/29/25)
- Maine bill would help protect drug discount program, advocates say more transparency is needed – MainePublic (1/29/30)
- Legislation proposed to protect current pharmaceutical drug program – WABI (1/29/30)
- Lawmakers want to close a loophole to protect drug discount prices for rural Mainers – Spectrum News (1/29/30)
