Robert J. Henkel, FACHE, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Health, shared his perspective recently on the need to keep medications affordable for needy patients in a column for The Hill.
"Sadly, prescription drug spending continues to spiral out of control," Bob says in the column. "Last year, according to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), about $457 billion was spent on prescription drugs, accounting for 16.7 percent of overall personal healthcare services. Prescription medication prices are increasing far faster than any other aspect of healthcare. In the 24 states and the District of Columbia where we deliver care, we've experienced in a one-year period alone an increase of $73.9 million in our drug spending. That means $73.9 million less that we can invest in patient and community care."
At the same time, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to eligible healthcare organizations at significantly reduced prices so vulnerable populations are able to afford the best care possible, is at risk.
Ascension leaders nationwide gathered in Washington, D.C., recently to advocate for the importance of the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
"Our Mission is to provide compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable," Bob says. "Reducing the benefits of the program will compromise our ability to provide low-cost or no-cost medications to our patients who need it most."
Click here to read the full column.
