GAO: Some hospitals pocket savings from program meant to lower costs for low-income patients
“A federal program that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to sell discounted drugs to certain health care providers was intended to expand services and lower costs for low-income consumers. But federal investigators found some hospitals are keeping the savings. The Government Accountability Office found that 16 of the 28 hospitals it surveyed that are covered under the 340B program did not provide any discount to patients at pharmacies that are contracted to distribute drugs on their behalf. The program requires Medicaid-participating drug companies to offer discounts on outpatient drugs to qualified hospitals and clinics.”