The Value of Safety-Net Providers
Community Health Centers and other safety-net providers participating in the 340B program are vital for underserved communities and the program must continue to work for them.
The first Community Health Centers were established in 1965 to provide medical care to underserved communities, serving all patients regardless of income or insurance status. In this role, they are also critical to the structure of the safety net and advancement of health equity.
More than 31 million Americans rely on community health centers and other safety-net clinics for their medical care.
Of the 31 million patients served:
90%
are low income
64%
are people of color
41%
live in rural communities
35%
Patients are 35% more likely to have a chronic condition and require specialized care
The 340B program is meant to help low-income and other vulnerable patients access more affordable medicines and, in turn, support safety-net providers, like Community Health Centers, in their overall mission to provide vital medical services and care.
Biopharmaceutical manufacturers play a vital role in the program, providing steep discounts on outpatient medications to eligible covered entities, which include safety-net hospitals and federal grantees like Community Health Centers (CHCs), Ryan White Clinics, and other providers treating vulnerable populations. The industry has had a longstanding commitment to helping patients afford the medicines they need and the 340B program is an important part of that commitment.
ASAP 340B knows there are other clinics and providers that participate in the 340B program. It’s time for the true safety net to work together to restore integrity back into the vital program.