WASHINGTON (October 23, 2025) — The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), the nation’s leading advocate for the health and economic well-being of Hispanic older adults, applauds the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) for holding this important hearing to examine the 340B Drug Pricing Program’s growth and its impact on patients.
For more than three decades, the 340B program has helped safety-net providers stretch scarce federal resources to serve low-income communities. But a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis makes clear that the program has strayed from that mission. The report found that 340B purchases have skyrocketed — from $6.6 billion in 2010 to nearly $44 billion in 2021 — while many hospitals continue to profit from discounted drugs without passing savings on to patients. This failure of accountability harms older adults, particularly those in Hispanic and low-income communities, who already face steep out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.
NHCOA urges Congress to pursue thoughtful reforms that restore the program’s integrity and ensure savings reach the people Congress intended. The 340B ACCESS Act is one such reform that would rein in middlemen abuses and require transparency from hospitals and pharmacies alike. By prioritizing patients over profits, Congress can ensure the 340B program once again strengthens — not undermines — America’s healthcare safety net.
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