Unintended Consequences: How the Affordable Care Act Helped Grow the 340B Program
Unintended Consequences: How the Affordable Care Act Helped Grow the 340B Program
1 PagesIQVIA’s analysis shows the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unintentionally accelerated 340B program growth, misaligning it with the vulnerable population it was meant to serve. While the number of vulnerable individuals halved over the last decade due to expanded healthcare access, 340B drug discount revenue tripled, driven by Medicaid expansion, broadened hospital eligibility, and more child sites and contract pharmacies. By 2021, there were 2.1–3.6 times more 340B patients than vulnerable individuals, rising to 3.7–7.7 for those taking initial Maximum Fair Price drugs. These incentives highlight a growing gap between program scale and its original purpose.
