ADAP Advocacy Releases Infographics Exposing 340B Program's Failure to Alleviate Medical Debt

ADAP Advocacy has published two new infographics highlighting the persistent problem of medical debt and its impact on patients, despite the massive growth of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The infographics, part of the organization's 340B Project, complement recently released materials and contribute to the ongoing national advocacy campaign questioning whether the 340B program has become "too big to fail."

The first infographic, titled "340B Too Big to Fail – Medical Debt – Part 1," demonstrates how the 340B Drug Pricing Program was originally designed to help low-income patients access healthcare services. However, the program has grown to $66 billion in size while primarily benefiting hospitals rather than patients. Medical debt continues to represent a crippling financial burden for many Americans, with most of this debt being owed to hospitals that qualify for the 340B program.

The second infographic, "340B Too Big to Fail – Medical Debt – Part 2," reveals that many hospitals participating in the 340B Program are employing aggressive, predatory debt collection practices against patients. These practices often damage consumer credit reports and involve legal action against patients rather than providing the free charity care required by law. The infographic shows that 340B hospitals are choosing not to set reasonable prices or offer robust financial assistance programs despite their participation in the federal program.

The two-part infographic series is available for download at https://www.adapadvocacy.org/publications.html#i. These publications are significant because they challenge the effectiveness of a major federal healthcare program that has expanded dramatically without corresponding reductions in patient financial burden. The findings suggest systemic failures in how the 340B program benefits are being distributed, raising questions about whether hospitals are fulfilling their obligations to provide charity care in exchange for participation in the drug discount program.

The implications of this research extend to healthcare policy, hospital operations, and patient financial protection. If 340B-eligible hospitals are indeed prioritizing revenue over patient assistance, it could lead to increased regulatory scrutiny and potential reforms to ensure the program better serves its intended beneficiaries—low-income and vulnerable patients seeking affordable healthcare services.