Missouri Lawmakers Score Big Win: 40% of Uninsured, Low-Income Patients to Gain Access to Cheaper Medications

New Law Aims to Make Essential Medications More Accessible to Uninsured and Low-Income Patients

Governor Mike Parson has signed Senate Bill 751 into law which will help Missourians get essential medications more easily through the federal 340B program. This new law requires drugmakers who work with Medicaid to offer cheaper outpatient drugs to healthcare organizations that help uninsured and low-income patients. Supporters believe this will fix some of the issues caused by big pharmaceutical companies and reduce the need for patients to travel far for their medicine.

Karen White, CEO of Missouri Highlands Health Center, calls the law a major step forward for women’s health care, especially in rural areas. She says that without the 340B program, it would be much harder for people in underserved areas to get important services. The law has received strong support from both sides of the political aisle showing its wide appeal and potential benefits for communities across Missouri.

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(photo: Missouri Independent)

A Win for Affordability or a Shift in the Industry?

While many, like Joe Perle, CEO of the Missouri Primary Care Association, celebrate the new law as a big win for making prescriptions more affordable, not everyone is fully on board. Drew Duncan, a lobbyist for Pfizer argues that although his company supports the 340B program and it doesn’t always lead to big savings for patients. The impact of the law on pharmaceutical regulations and local pharmacies will be watched closely as it starts to take effect, according to the report of Public News Service.

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