Measuring the Impact and Size of Hospital Participation in the 340B Drug Discount Program

This multiphase study will seek to:
1. Compare safety‐net engagement and hospital community benefit investments among 340B‐qualifying hospital systems and non‐340B hospital systems
2. Determine potential hospital revenue gained from 340B‐eligible prescription drug sales
3. Analyze the association between estimated hospital revenue gained and measures of safety‐net
engagement and hospital community benefit provision investments
4. Estimate the volume of national prescription drug sales eligible for 340B discounts relative to total volume of drug sales
5. Explore the extent to which 340B‐qualifying hospitals are passing on the discounts to patients directly. The study team will merge data from 340B hospital systems, Medicare cost reports, hospital tax returns, the American Hospital Association, the federal American Community Survey, commercial claims, and IMS Health.

Armed with evidence of how 340B program money flows to, benefits, and is used by qualifying hospitals, federal and state policymakers will be better positioned to design policies that meet the needs of safety‐net providers and their patients.