Keeping Care Affordable in Kansas: Why 340B Matters
As chair of the Kansas Hospital Association Board of Directors and CEO of Rice Community Health, I see every day how the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program keeps care affordable for Kansas families—especially in rural communities like ours.
What 340B Does
The 340B Program allows eligible hospitals to purchase outpatient medications at significantly reduced prices and reinvest those savings locally to stretch scarce resources and expand care. In Kansas, more than 90 hospitals participate—multiplying the impact for patients across the state.
How Kansans benefit
Because of 340B, patients are more likely to start—and stay on—the medicines they need. Savings help us:
- Lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors and low-income families
- Keep essential services close to home (maternity, cancer care, behavioral health)
- Sustain chronic disease care—including affordable insulin for people with diabetes
- Support prevention and follow-up care that reduce ER visits and readmissions
These savings also support local jobs and keep healthcare dollars circulating in our communities
How does Rice Community Health use 340B savings?
At Rice Community Health, 340B savings help us:
- Keep medications affordable for patients
- Maintain vital services close to home
- Fund community health initiatives and prevention programs
- Support access to care for our most vulnerable neighbors
What’s at Risk
Misinformation and ongoing restrictions from some pharmaceutical manufacturers threaten the strength of 340B.
If these limits continue, Kansans could face:
- Higher drug costs and missed medications
- Longer travel for routine and specialty care
- Reduced or discontinued services at rural hospitals
Why is protecting 340B so important?
Without it, hospitals like ours could lose critical funding that keeps essential services available locally. Patients would face higher costs, and many rural communities could see reduced access to care.
A Request to Our Lawmakers—and Our Neighbors
In the most recent legislative session, the Kansas Senate advanced legislation to protect 340B and the Kansans it serves.
I urge the Kansas House of Representatives to do the same. And I encourage community members to contact their elected officials to voice support for a strong, effective 340B Program.
