Jeanette Hoffman, executive director of Patients Come First New Jersey, has raised concerns about the misuse of the 340B Drug Pricing Program by large nonprofit health systems, including those in New Jersey. Hoffman made these remarks in an op-ed on March 4.
"There's little to no evidence that any financial relief from this program ends up in patients' hands," said Hoffman. "Patients of all economic backgrounds should have the opportunity to receive the high-quality care they need. This program needs serious reforms to ensure patients come first."
According to NJ Spotlight News, the 340B Drug Pricing Program is intended to assist low-income patients and is utilized by 26 hospitals in New Jersey. However, it reports that 16% of these hospitals provide charity care below the national average. Furthermore, it states that New Jersey's 340B hospitals earn profits that are 1.4 times greater than their expenditure on charity care, with AtlantiCare reportedly making $49 million annually. Hoffman has expressed concerns over a lack of transparency and claims that hospitals are profiting without passing savings onto patients.
NorthJersey corroborates this report, noting that at least 26 hospitals in New Jersey participate in the program but highlights that some provide insufficient charity care compared to national standards. The report raises questions about whether the program effectively supports low-income patients as intended.
Nicole Longo, Deputy Vice President of Public Affairs at PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America), also commented on the issue. According to Central Nova News, Longo said many hospitals exploit loopholes within the 340B program. She said that these institutions drive up costs for patients, employers, and taxpayers by prescribing more expensive medicines and avoiding biosimilars while significantly marking up drug prices instead of transferring savings to patients.
According to Patients Come First, Hoffman is a public affairs consultant with over two decades of experience in strategic messaging, crisis communications, and policy advocacy. She leads a public affairs firm and frequently comments on politics and public policy issues in the media.
