Area News Headlines
These news headlines brought to you by these fine sponsors:
Huron County Commissioners approve medical plan (Huron County)
Mary Drier/Mike Kaufman
Fri, 10 Jan 2025 06:36:10 EST
 |
click on the picture to enlarge
|
During the last county meeting, Huron County Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between the county and McLaren Thumb Region to participate in the 340B Program.
According to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, the 340B is a drug pricing program that is a safety net for hospitals and other community care organizations to access certain outpatient prescription drugs at discounted prices.
The program, which was created by congress, has been an integral part of healthcare financing since its inception in 1992, and does not require any state taxpayer dollars.
Providers have been using that program for more than 30 years that helps provide access to care for the state's most vulnerable patients.
The 340B program is critical to eligible hospitals throughout Michigan, and it is more important than ever as drug prices are the most rapidly growing expense for hospitals. The costs for new drugs launched by pharmaceutical companies rose by 35 percent from 2022 to 2023.
As major purchasers of drugs, hospitals are forced to bear a significant burden of the rising costs, but 340B helps hospitals navigate out of control drug costs and is an important tool to retain low cost access to care.
