WASHINGTON (July 29, 2025) – Today, the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), the nation’s leading advocate for the health and economic well-being of Hispanic older adults, issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the 340B PATIENTS Act:
“The 340B program was designed to help hospitals and clinics purchase discounted medications to serve low-income patients. But too often, those savings are captured by third-party contract pharmacies — typically large chains owned by pharmacy benefit managers. These entities can acquire medicines at steep discounts, averaging more than 53% off the list price — and still charge patients the full amount. And rather than striving to meet patients where the need is greatest, contract pharmacies have scaled back their presence in underserved communities.
Hispanic Americans already face higher rates of chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, dementia, and depression compared to non-Hispanic white Americans. Managing these conditions requires consistent, affordable access to medication — making Hispanic seniors particularly vulnerable to a system that fails to deliver on its promise of savings.
By codifying contract pharmacy arrangements without any patient-focused safeguards, the 340B PATIENTS Act would lock in a broken system — one that prioritizes profit over care and lacks basic accountability. NHCOA urges Congress to reject this bill outright. Lawmakers should instead pursue the targeted reforms outlined in the Senate HELP Committee’s recent report — including transparency on how 340B revenues are used, direct sharing of discounts with patients, and stronger oversight to ensure the program serves its original mission.”
About NHCOA:
NHCOA is the leading national organization working to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and their caregivers. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NHCOA has been a strong voice dedicated to promoting, educating, and advocating for research, policy, and practice in the areas of economic security, health, and housing for Hispanic older adults, families, and caregivers for the last 51 years.
For more information about NHCOA call 202-347-9733 or visit www.NHCOA.org.
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