In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and co-host Angela Degrassi discuss the 340B Drug Discount Program and why a program created to help vulnerable patients has become an important issue for patient access, hospital transparency, and accountability. 

The conversation explains how 340B allows eligible hospitals and other covered entities to purchase certain outpatient medicines at steep discounts. The original purpose was to help safety-net providers stretch limited resources and support uninsured, underinsured, and underserved patients. Dr. Popovian emphasizes that the program is valuable and should not be eliminated but asks whether the savings are actually reaching patients directly. 

The episode also explores why many patients may not know they are receiving care at a 340B hospital, even though that hospital may be purchasing outpatient medicines at a significant discount. Patients are not automatically guaranteed to receive that discounted price, and hospitals are not clearly required to pass those savings directly to them. 

Robert and Angela also discuss findings from a study Dr. Popovian co-authored comparing 340B and non-340B hospitals. The study found that 340B hospitals, on average, provided less charity care, less charity care for uninsured patients, and less uncompensated or unreimbursed care as a percentage of operating expenses than non-340B hospitals. 

The key message: 340B was created to help vulnerable patients, but patients are often not told when hospitals receive these discounts and are not guaranteed to benefit directly. Patients should be informed, hospitals should be transparent, and there should be a clear pathway for patients to ask whether 340B discounts can help reduce their out-of-pocket drug costs. 

Read the study here: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.12.26346191v1 

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Angela Degrassi, Senior Manager, Patient-Centered Research Operations & Engagement: adegrassi@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Amelia Violet Prouse.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and co-host Angela Degrassi discuss the 340B Drug Discount Program and why a program created to help vulnerable patients has become an important issue for patient access, hospital transparency, and accountability.&nbsp;
The conversation explains how 340B allows eligible hospitals and other covered entities to purchase certain outpatient medicines at steep discounts. The original purpose was to help safety-net providers stretch limited resources and support uninsured, underinsured, and underserved patients. Dr. Popovian emphasizes that the program is valuable and should not be eliminated but asks whether the savings are actually reaching patients directly.&nbsp;
The episode also explores why many patients may not know they are receiving care at a 340B hospital, even though that hospital may be purchasing outpatient medicines at a significant discount. Patients are not automatically guaranteed to receive that discounted price, and hospitals are not clearly required to pass those savings directly to them.&nbsp;
Robert and Angela also discuss findings from a study Dr. Popovian co-authored comparing 340B and non-340B hospitals. The study found that 340B hospitals, on average, provided less charity care, less charity care for uninsured patients, and less uncompensated or unreimbursed care as a percentage of operating expenses than non-340B hospitals.&nbsp;
The key message: 340B was created to help vulnerable patients, but patients are often not told when hospitals receive these discounts and are not guaranteed to benefit directly. Patients should be informed, hospitals should be transparent, and there should be a clear pathway for patients to ask whether 340B discounts can help reduce their out-of-pocket drug costs.&nbsp;
Read the study here: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.12.26346191v1">https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.12.26346191v1</a>&nbsp;
Contact Our Hosts
Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: <a href="mailto:rpopovian@ghlf.org">rpopovian@ghlf.org</a>
Angela Degrassi, Senior Manager, Patient-Centered Research Operations &amp; Engagement: <a href="mailto:adegrassi@ghlf.org">adegrassi@ghlf.org</a>
A podcast series produced by Amelia Violet Prouse.
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to <a href="mailto:podcasts@ghlf.org">podcasts@ghlf.org</a>
Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 

Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 

The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 

www.ghlf.org

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 
Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 
The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 
www.ghlf.org

Healthcare Matters

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.

The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF.

 

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.
The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF.
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