S7, Ep 3- 340B: Are Patients Seeing the Savings?

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian breaks down the 340B drug pricing program through the lens that matters most: what it means for patients. Prompted by Minnesota’s latest transparency report, he explains how a program originally created to support care for uninsured and underinsured patients has grown into one of the largest and least understood drug programs in the country.  Dr. Popovian unpacks how the program works, why contract pharmacies have become such a major part of it, and what the newest data suggest about who is benefiting most. He also raises a critical question: if hospitals and affiliated entities are receiving deep discounts on medicines, why are so many patients still facing high out-of-pocket costs?  This episode explores whether the 340B program is truly delivering on its original mission and why greater transparency, accountability, and patient benefit should be at the center of the conversation.  Minnesota 340B Covered Entity Report 2025 Minnesota 340B Covered Entity Report 2024 Contact Our Hosts Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: [email protected] A podcast series produced by Amelia Violet Prouse. We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected] Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.