National Hispanic Health Foundation Statement on New CBO 340B Report
WASHINGTON, DC, October 1, 2025 –– Today, the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), a national nonprofit dedicated to improving America’s healthcare system for Hispanic and Latino communities, issued the following statement responding to the Congressional Budget Office’s new report on the growth of the 340B Drug Pricing Program:
“The CBO’s new report on the 340B Drug Pricing Program shines light on an alarming trend that harms Hispanic patients and families across America. Rather than helping safety-net providers care for those in need, as Congress intended, 340B has become a way for large hospitals and contract pharmacies to enrich themselves at the expense of underserved and minority communities.
“The CBO’s analysis shows that many of the providers participating in 340B are using the savings they receive from the program not to provide affordable medicines to patients, but instead to pad their bottom lines. The report highlights how the rapid growth of 340B spending — from just $6.6 billion in 2010 to nearly $44 billion in 2021 — has been driven by hospitals’ increasing use of contract pharmacies and acquisition of outpatient clinics. These are often located in wealthy communities, where hospitals can make larger profits.
“The report also underscores that, by allowing hospitals to pocket the difference between the discounted prices they pay for medicines and the reimbursements they receive from insurers, 340B incentivizes hospitals to push more expensive medications — burdening taxpayers and health insurers.
“Hispanic and Latino patients are paying the price for 340B’s failure. Our communities already experience higher rates of chronic illnesses like diabetes, obesity, and liver and kidney diseases, making steady access to prescriptions essential. But the growth of 340B contract pharmacies in affluent, majority-White neighborhoods has caused hospitals to neglect many Hispanic neighborhoods, leaving families with fewer options and higher barriers to care.
“It is time for Congress to act. The recently introduced 340B Affording Care for Communities and Ensuring a Strong Safety-Net (340B ACCESS) Act offers a chance for lawmakers to restore the program’s integrity by requiring transparency in how 340B revenues are used and curbing hospitals’ abuse of contract pharmacies.
“NHHF urges Congress to pass this bill so that the 340B program can once again serve the Americans who need it most.”
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About the National Hispanic Health Foundation: The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) is a 501(c)3 foundation headquartered in Washington, DC, working toward a more thriving and equitable healthcare ecosystem.