Pritzker Signs 340B Laws to Protect Community Health Centers and Patient Access Across Illinois (Springfield, IL) – Gov. JB Pritzker has signed two measures aimed at protecting the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and strengthening access to affordable medications and health care for patients served by community health centers across Illinois.
The Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) praised the governor’s signing of House Bills 2371 and 4327, describing the legislation as a major step toward protecting community health centers and the more than 1.5 million patients they serve annually.
HB 2371, known as the Illinois Patient Access to Pharmacy Protection Act, protects the contract pharmacy arrangements used by community health centers to provide medications to patients and generate savings through the 340B program.
Under the program, savings can be reinvested into patient services, workforce development, expanded access to care and other programs addressing health disparities.
“Governor Pritzker has once again shown that he understands what community health centers mean to the people of Illinois,” said Ollie Idowu, president and CEO of IPHCA. “At a time when so much about the future of healthcare feels uncertain, his willingness to act gives our health centers and the patients they serve a real measure of stability.”
Idowu said the new protections will help health centers continue providing affordable medications while using 340B savings to support services such as chronic disease management, behavioral health care and workforce development.
“These protections have real consequences for real patients,” Idowu said. “They mean health centers can continue helping patients access affordable medications while reinvesting 340B savings into expanded services, workforce development, chronic disease management, behavioral health care, and other critical programs that improve health outcomes.”
HB 4327 takes a different approach by directing the Illinois Department of Insurance to conduct a study of the 340B program in Illinois. The study will examine how the program operates within the state’s health care system and its effects on patients, providers and communities.
IPHCA said the study will provide policymakers with additional information about the program while promoting greater transparency and accountability.
“The Illinois Primary Health Care Association believes transparency is a core principle of public accountability, and that includes how the 340B drug pricing program operates in Illinois,” Idowu said. “HB 4327 reflects a genuine legislative interest in greater accountability and provides meaningful transparency in a way that protects the program’s ability to continue serving patients.”
IPHCA credited state lawmakers, including Sen. David Koehler, Rep. Camille Lilly and Rep. Anna Moeller, for advancing the legislation. The organization also thanked Senate President Don Harmon, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and other General Assembly members who supported the measures.
Community health centers provide primary care, behavioral health, dental, pharmacy and other services to patients throughout urban, suburban and rural Illinois, regardless of their ability to pay.
IPHCA represents 55 community health centers across Illinois, which collectively serve more than 1.5 million patients each year.
Pritzker Signs 340B Laws to Protect Community Health Centers and Patient Access Across Illinois
