February 12, 2025 • 10 mins
The podcast discusses the 340B Drug Pricing Program, emphasizing its role in providing affordable medications to underserved communities through healthcare facilities. We explore eligibility criteria, the program's impact on patient access, and the positive changes it fosters in local healthcare systems.
• Overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program
• Explanation of eligible covered entities
• How 340B functions in pharmacy settings
• Testimonials on patient experiences with 340B
• Importance of patient eligibility requirements
• Community impact of the 340B program
• Discussion on expanding services due to cost savings
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tangela (00:03):
Welcome to the MedLink Health Connections podcast.
I'm Tangela, and today we'rejoined by Dennis Kimbrell, our
Director of Pharmacy Services.
We'll be discussing the 340BDrug Pricing Program, which
helps healthcare facilitiesserving low-income communities
access discounted medications.
Dennis will cover the program'shistory, eligible facilities
and how it works in a pharmacysetting.
(00:24):
We'll also talk about patienteligibility and the program's
impact on healthcare facilitiesand communities.
Dennis, thank you so much forjoining us.
Let's get started.
So first of all, let's kind ofstart off with exactly what is
the 340B Drug Pricing Programand why was it created?
Dennis Kimbrell (00:43):
Well, good morning and thank you for having
me on.
The 340B drug pricing programis essentially just a
prescription discount program.
It's supported by the federalgovernment and it's been around
for more than 30 years andallows certain types of health
care facilities, like MedlinkGeorgia, to purchase medications
(01:05):
at a reduced price.
And the healthcare entitiesthat typically qualify for 340B
are the ones that are providingcare to large numbers of
low-income and uninsuredpatients, and the program has
two main purposes.
I mean one is just makemedications more affordable for
(01:27):
patients, and we do that here atMedLink.
It also serves to help a 340Beligible health care provider to
stretch the limited federalfunding they receive so that
they can serve more patients andoffer more services.
Tangela (01:40):
Perfect, and which health care facilities qualify
for the 340B program?
Dennis Kimbrell (01:48):
There's actually a lot.
Several types of facilities canqualify for the program, but
they're commonly referred to ascovered entities.
So throughout the day I mightdo this, I might mention that
term.
Some examples that you wouldsee would be like a rural
hospital that serves largenumbers of uninsured patients,
(02:08):
some children's hospitals, hivclinics and, of course,
community health centers, likehere at Medlink Nice.
Tangela (02:17):
How does the 340B program work in a pharmacy
setting?
Dennis Kimbrell (02:23):
Well, as I just mentioned, only these
qualifying covered entities likeMedlink can access this program
, and they often choose tooperate a pharmacy in their
facility as well.
So the pharmacies can purchasemedications at a discounted rate
from their normal pharmacywholesaler, and then these
discounts can be substantial,often 20 to 50% off what you
(02:47):
would normally see if you werebuying it in a non-340B price.
Tangela (02:51):
Then these discounted medications are then dispensed
to patients that are receivinghealth care from that covered
entity, and the goal being toimprove access to affordable
medications, and this isparticularly for an uninsured
patient or a low-income patient,nice, I will say I personally
(03:12):
have been using our pharmacymyself and the discounts are
crazy, like I used to bestressed about purchasing my
medication because it would belike different every single time
and it always felt like it wassuper outrageous.
And I have had the consistent,a consistent price first of all,
(03:34):
and it has not been likehurtful to my wallet.
So I am very grateful for ourpharmacy.
Dennis Kimbrell (03:42):
Yeah, and that's so good to hear, and the
thing is that the medicationskeep getting more expensive, and
so does everything else in thisworld, and people only have to
decide between sandwiched meatand medication don't normally
choose the medication, so it's agood feeling knowing that we
have a resource where we canimpact people that has an actual
(04:05):
effect on their health andtheir lives, so that's a great
thank you for sharing that.
Tangela (04:09):
Yeah, of course.
So what are some of theeligibility requirements for
patients to access the 340Bmedications?
Dennis Kimbrell (04:18):
Well, there are some specific eligibility
criteria for MedLink or acovered entity to dispense a
340B medication.
In our setting, I usuallyexplain this to our team as
simply our patient, our clinicand our providers.
So, first, the patient has toreceive healthcare services from
(04:40):
MedLink, so they have to be ourpatient, and second, they have
to be seen or treated at anactual facility, so the building
itself has to be registered andapproved to receive a 340B
medication.
And here at Medlink all of ourlocations are registered and
approved.
And lastly, the patients needto see one of our doctors, so
(05:01):
they need to receive care from aprovider who is either employed
by us or is under some kind ofcontract with us to provide care
for our patients.
And the requirements areactually very important because
we have to ensure that the 340Bprogram just benefits patients
who are genuinely receiving acomprehensive care for MedLink.
Tangela (05:22):
What kind of impact does this program have on
healthcare facilities and theircommunities?
Dennis Kimbrell (05:27):
Well this is.
It has a tremendous impact, asmentioned already, that these
340B entities like Medlink canpurchase these medications at a
reduced price and that can leadto a substantial cost savings
for the healthcare facility.
And these facilities can usethe savings from this program to
expand services.
(05:48):
That can include opening a newclinic in an area of need,
offering additional medicalservices or even extending hours
of operation.
The program helps to ensurethat our low-income and our
underserved patients have accessto affordable medications, and
(06:09):
this can lead to better healthoutcomes, reduced hospital
readmissions.
The savings can be used tosubsidize care for patients who
are, you know, uninsured orunderinsured, and this helps
(06:33):
ensure that all the patients canreceive the care they need from
us, regardless of their abilityto pay.
And additionally, the 340Bprogram funds can be used to
support community healthinitiatives such as health
education programs andpreventative care programs and
outreach efforts.
I mean overall, the programenables MedLink to provide a
more comprehensive andaccessible care to all the
(06:53):
communities that we serve, butparticularly just benefiting
those who are in need.
Tangela (07:04):
I can say that I appreciate that we have these
services for our community.
I just think it is so awesomeand amazing and I think that you
speak so well on it and I havelearned so much about it and
have just a deeper understandingand I really enjoy your passion
for this program that we have.
Dennis Kimbrell (07:24):
Well, if selfishly, it feels pretty good
to be able to help people.
So I, like I said earlier, I doenjoy hearing the stories and
helping people and I know thatin our communities that we serve
we have more need than we canmeet.
We have more need than we canmeet and this is one resource.
(07:45):
We have to try to meet thatneed and MedLink works very hard
to find every resource we can,and our mission can't be
accomplished without all ofthese services.
I know when I was younger Ilived in Winder for a while and
my pediatrician just went out ofbusiness and so I looked around
(08:10):
, you know, and I had twochildren and there's she just
left and went to Athens.
I lived in Winder and you knowshe was the only pediatrician
still in Winder and Medlink, youknow, opened up a
pediatrician's office becausethat was the need for that
community, and so we're talkingabout 340B today, but we opened
(08:31):
that.
That opened because that wasthe need for that community.
At the time there wasn't apediatrician in Winder and I
think the 340B program is.
You know it has such a hugeimpact on being able to help
patients reduce the cost oftheir medication, but it also
really, really helps insituations like that, where it
(08:52):
can provide funding for thehealthcare facility MedLink in
our case to be able to do thingslike that.
When you look at a county andsay, wow, we really need dental
services, you know, we reallyneed imaging services, you know.
So it's a great feeling.
It is.
Tangela (09:09):
I'm so glad that we have this and I'm glad that you
are so passionate about all ofit.
Thank you so much for speakingwith me today.
This was awesome.
I hope everyone really learnedas much as I did, because I feel
like I learned a lot and Inever really realized how much
(09:30):
our pharmacy services value toour company.
I know people always talk aboutit, but just learning more
about it really shows the value.
Dennis Kimbrell (09:42):
Well, thank you so much for having me today and
having an opportunity to speakon it.
Tangela (09:47):
Thank you for tuning in to the MedLink Health
Connections podcast.
We hope you found today'sepisode informative and
inspiring.
If you enjoyed the show, pleasesubscribe, rate and leave a
review on your favorite podcastplatform.
Remember, the informationshared in this podcast is for
educational purposes only andshould not replace professional
medical advice.
(10:08):
Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical
concerns.
Stay connected with us onsocial media and visit our
website at medlinkgaorg for moreresources and updates.
No-transcript.
Welcome to the MedLink Health Connections podcast.
I'm Tangela, and today we'rejoined by Dennis Kimbrell, our
Director of Pharmacy Services.
We'll be discussing the 340BDrug Pricing Program, which
helps healthcare facilitiesserving low-income communities
access discounted medications.
Dennis will cover the program'shistory, eligible facilities
and how it works in a pharmacysetting.
(00:24):
We'll also talk about patienteligibility and the program's
impact on healthcare facilitiesand communities.
Dennis, thank you so much forjoining us.
Let's get started.
So first of all, let's kind ofstart off with exactly what is
the 340B Drug Pricing Programand why was it created?
Dennis Kimbrell (00:43):
Well, good morning and thank you for having
me on.
The 340B drug pricing programis essentially just a
prescription discount program.
It's supported by the federalgovernment and it's been around
for more than 30 years andallows certain types of health
care facilities, like MedlinkGeorgia, to purchase medications
(01:05):
at a reduced price.
And the healthcare entitiesthat typically qualify for 340B
are the ones that are providingcare to large numbers of
low-income and uninsuredpatients, and the program has
two main purposes.
I mean one is just makemedications more affordable for
(01:27):
patients, and we do that here atMedLink.
It also serves to help a 340Beligible health care provider to
stretch the limited federalfunding they receive so that
they can serve more patients andoffer more services.
Tangela (01:40):
Perfect, and which health care facilities qualify
for the 340B program?
Dennis Kimbrell (01:48):
There's actually a lot.
Several types of facilities canqualify for the program, but
they're commonly referred to ascovered entities.
So throughout the day I mightdo this, I might mention that
term.
Some examples that you wouldsee would be like a rural
hospital that serves largenumbers of uninsured patients,
(02:08):
some children's hospitals, hivclinics and, of course,
community health centers, likehere at Medlink Nice.
Tangela (02:17):
How does the 340B program work in a pharmacy
setting?
Dennis Kimbrell (02:23):
Well, as I just mentioned, only these
qualifying covered entities likeMedlink can access this program
, and they often choose tooperate a pharmacy in their
facility as well.
So the pharmacies can purchasemedications at a discounted rate
from their normal pharmacywholesaler, and then these
discounts can be substantial,often 20 to 50% off what you
(02:47):
would normally see if you werebuying it in a non-340B price.
Tangela (02:51):
Then these discounted medications are then dispensed
to patients that are receivinghealth care from that covered
entity, and the goal being toimprove access to affordable
medications, and this isparticularly for an uninsured
patient or a low-income patient,nice, I will say I personally
(03:12):
have been using our pharmacymyself and the discounts are
crazy, like I used to bestressed about purchasing my
medication because it would belike different every single time
and it always felt like it wassuper outrageous.
And I have had the consistent,a consistent price first of all,
(03:34):
and it has not been likehurtful to my wallet.
So I am very grateful for ourpharmacy.
Dennis Kimbrell (03:42):
Yeah, and that's so good to hear, and the
thing is that the medicationskeep getting more expensive, and
so does everything else in thisworld, and people only have to
decide between sandwiched meatand medication don't normally
choose the medication, so it's agood feeling knowing that we
have a resource where we canimpact people that has an actual
(04:05):
effect on their health andtheir lives, so that's a great
thank you for sharing that.
Tangela (04:09):
Yeah, of course.
So what are some of theeligibility requirements for
patients to access the 340Bmedications?
Dennis Kimbrell (04:18):
Well, there are some specific eligibility
criteria for MedLink or acovered entity to dispense a
340B medication.
In our setting, I usuallyexplain this to our team as
simply our patient, our clinicand our providers.
So, first, the patient has toreceive healthcare services from
(04:40):
MedLink, so they have to be ourpatient, and second, they have
to be seen or treated at anactual facility, so the building
itself has to be registered andapproved to receive a 340B
medication.
And here at Medlink all of ourlocations are registered and
approved.
And lastly, the patients needto see one of our doctors, so
(05:01):
they need to receive care from aprovider who is either employed
by us or is under some kind ofcontract with us to provide care
for our patients.
And the requirements areactually very important because
we have to ensure that the 340Bprogram just benefits patients
who are genuinely receiving acomprehensive care for MedLink.
Tangela (05:22):
What kind of impact does this program have on
healthcare facilities and theircommunities?
Dennis Kimbrell (05:27):
Well this is.
It has a tremendous impact, asmentioned already, that these
340B entities like Medlink canpurchase these medications at a
reduced price and that can leadto a substantial cost savings
for the healthcare facility.
And these facilities can usethe savings from this program to
expand services.
(05:48):
That can include opening a newclinic in an area of need,
offering additional medicalservices or even extending hours
of operation.
The program helps to ensurethat our low-income and our
underserved patients have accessto affordable medications, and
(06:09):
this can lead to better healthoutcomes, reduced hospital
readmissions.
The savings can be used tosubsidize care for patients who
are, you know, uninsured orunderinsured, and this helps
(06:33):
ensure that all the patients canreceive the care they need from
us, regardless of their abilityto pay.
And additionally, the 340Bprogram funds can be used to
support community healthinitiatives such as health
education programs andpreventative care programs and
outreach efforts.
I mean overall, the programenables MedLink to provide a
more comprehensive andaccessible care to all the
(06:53):
communities that we serve, butparticularly just benefiting
those who are in need.
Tangela (07:04):
I can say that I appreciate that we have these
services for our community.
I just think it is so awesomeand amazing and I think that you
speak so well on it and I havelearned so much about it and
have just a deeper understandingand I really enjoy your passion
for this program that we have.
Dennis Kimbrell (07:24):
Well, if selfishly, it feels pretty good
to be able to help people.
So I, like I said earlier, I doenjoy hearing the stories and
helping people and I know thatin our communities that we serve
we have more need than we canmeet.
We have more need than we canmeet and this is one resource.
(07:45):
We have to try to meet thatneed and MedLink works very hard
to find every resource we can,and our mission can't be
accomplished without all ofthese services.
I know when I was younger Ilived in Winder for a while and
my pediatrician just went out ofbusiness and so I looked around
(08:10):
, you know, and I had twochildren and there's she just
left and went to Athens.
I lived in Winder and you knowshe was the only pediatrician
still in Winder and Medlink, youknow, opened up a
pediatrician's office becausethat was the need for that
community, and so we're talkingabout 340B today, but we opened
(08:31):
that.
That opened because that wasthe need for that community.
At the time there wasn't apediatrician in Winder and I
think the 340B program is.
You know it has such a hugeimpact on being able to help
patients reduce the cost oftheir medication, but it also
really, really helps insituations like that, where it
(08:52):
can provide funding for thehealthcare facility MedLink in
our case to be able to do thingslike that.
When you look at a county andsay, wow, we really need dental
services, you know, we reallyneed imaging services, you know.
So it's a great feeling.
It is.
Tangela (09:09):
I'm so glad that we have this and I'm glad that you
are so passionate about all ofit.
Thank you so much for speakingwith me today.
This was awesome.
I hope everyone really learnedas much as I did, because I feel
like I learned a lot and Inever really realized how much
(09:30):
our pharmacy services value toour company.
I know people always talk aboutit, but just learning more
about it really shows the value.
Dennis Kimbrell (09:42):
Well, thank you so much for having me today and
having an opportunity to speakon it.
Tangela (09:47):
Thank you for tuning in to the MedLink Health
Connections podcast.
We hope you found today'sepisode informative and
inspiring.
If you enjoyed the show, pleasesubscribe, rate and leave a
review on your favorite podcastplatform.
Remember, the informationshared in this podcast is for
educational purposes only andshould not replace professional
medical advice.
(10:08):
Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical
concerns.
Stay connected with us onsocial media and visit our
website at medlinkgaorg for moreresources and updates.
No-transcript.
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