Ohio Fights for Patients, Not PBM Greed

Ohio has been a national leader in exposing PBM abuses and standing up for patients. Still, major challenges remain – especially when it comes to the 340B Drug Pricing program.

340B was created to help qualifying hospitals and clinics buy medicines at a discount and stretch resources to better serve vulnerable populations. Done right, it helps keep care affordable and lowers prescription drug costs for patients in need. But over time, the program has grown opaque, allowing PBMs to turn it into a profit machine by reselling discounted drugs at higher prices and keeping the difference instead of passing savings to patients.

The scope of the problem is staggering. In 2022 alone, more than $2.5 billion in 340B savings intended for low-income patients was siphoned away by PBM-controlled pharmacies. Research shows over half of the profits from 340B contract pharmacies flow to just four corporate PBMs. Today, the three largest PBMs process about 80% of all U.S. prescriptions, while nearly 70% of 340B contract pharmacies are owned by or affiliated with PBMs.

What began as a lifeline has strayed far from its purpose. Patients are left with higher prices, fewer choices, and reduced access. For many Ohio families, the consequences are not just financial – they can be life or death.

Ohio has shown before that it can lead on PBM accountability - and it can do so again. As debates over 340B expansion continue, lawmakers must first demand real guardrails: transparency, oversight, and patient-first safeguards. Anything less means Ohio families will once again foot the bill for PBM greed.