Showing how Californians are being impacted by statewide issues, a recent victory for health care advocates was declared with the passing of Proposition 34. This ballot initiative aims to ensure that drug sale revenue is directed solely towards patient care, holding providers accountable to spend 98% of their revenue on patients. The initiative confronts the abuse of the federal 340B prescription drug program, which was intended to provide discounted drugs to underserved populations but has been exploited by hospitals and clinics.
The lack of transparency and oversight in the 340B program has led to hospitals charging exorbitant prices to patients, pocketing the savings from discounted drugs. Prop. 34 addresses these issues by restricting revenue use and bringing more accountability to the system. With over 1,500 violations of the 340B statute uncovered in a recent audit, urgent calls for reform have been made to Congress.
The passing of Prop. 34 serves as a wake-up call to 340B providers to prioritize patient care and work towards solutions that benefit those in need. The hope is that these reforms will improve the quality of life for patients and prevent price gouging by hospitals. By shining a light on these critical issues, Californians are taking a stand for healthcare transparency and fairness.
Source
Photo credit calmatters.org
