Rural 340B Access Act of 2025
Rural 340B Access Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Rural 340B Access Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would allow Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) to buy prescription drugs at discounted prices through a federal program called the 340B program. Currently, the 340B program requires drug manufacturers to sell certain medications at reduced prices to eligible healthcare entities like public hospitals and federally qualified health centers. REHs—a newer type of small hospital created in 2020 to serve rural communities—are not currently eligible for these discounts, even though they provide emergency and outpatient services.
This bill would add them to the list of eligible participants. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects Rural Emergency Hospitals (small hospitals in rural areas), their patients, and drug manufacturers. REHs serve communities with limited access to healthcare, and the discount access could help these resource-limited facilities reduce their drug costs and potentially improve their financial sustainability. **Current Status:** The bill (HR 44) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Rural 340B Access Act of 2025This bill makes rural emergency hospitals (REHs) eligible to purchase drugs from manufacturers at discounted prices by participating in the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) 340B drug pricing program. HRSA’s 340B program requires drug manufacturers that participate in the Medicaid program to sell certain outpatient drugs at discounted prices to entities listed as eligible under current law. Additionally, in 2020, Congress established REHs as a new Medicare provider designation for hospitals in rural areas providing emergency department services, observation care, and other outpatient medical and health services for which the annual per patient average length of stay does not exceed 24 hours. The bill adds qualifying REHs to the list of entities that are eligible to participate in the 340B program.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.