As Vice-President of the Broadcast Ministers Alliance of Chicago, Inc. comprised of an interfaith body of religious leaders serving Chicago and its surrounding vicinity, I witness daily the profound impact of health care disparities on our African-American communities. Hospitals such as Sinai Chicago, Rush University System for Health (Rush), University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), Stroger, Michael Reese, Roseland, Jackson Park, South Shore, and St. Bernard are more than medical facilities; they are sanctuaries of hope and healing. Central to their mission is the 340B drug pricing program, a federal initiative that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide discounts to eligible safety-net providers in exchange for the drugmakers’ ability to participate in federal Medicare and state Medicaid programs. Safety-net hospitals purchase outpatient drugs at discounted prices and use those savings to extend critical services to underserved populations. However, recent actions by pharmaceutical manufacturers threaten to undermine this vital program. Drugmakers are imposing access restrictions on 340B drugs dispensed through community and specialty contract pharmacies, and they are trying to replace upfront 340B discounts with backend rebates that will make it even more difficult to access savings. By taking these actions, these companies jeopardize the health and well-being of our most vulnerable residents.
Take Sinai Chicago, which serves more than 1.5 million people in high-poverty areas on the West and Southwest Sides. With 340B savings, Sinai provided free or significantly discounted medications to more than 750 patients in 2023 alone. They’ve invested millions to expand clinics for diabetes, infectious diseases, and oncology, directly addressing the health crises that disproportionately affect our communities. Similarly, UCMC uses 340B savings to offer affordable medications, free home delivery services, and programs like meds-to-beds, ensuring patients leave the hospital with necessary prescriptions. These initiatives are crucial in areas designated as pharmacy deserts, where access to medications is limited. Rush, recognized for its commitment to health equity, leverages 340B savings to address social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and housing instability, which are prevalent in our neighborhoods. The erosion of 340B’s efficacy due to pharmaceutical companies’ restrictions on contract pharmacies and attempts to impose rebates is not just a policy issue; it’s a moral one. These actions threaten to widen the health disparities that institutions like these strive to close daily.
As faith leaders and community advocates, we must raise our voices against these injustices. We call upon policymakers to protect the 340B program, ensuring that drug manufacturers comply with providing necessary discounts without imposing undue restrictions. Our communities rely on the lifeline that 340B provides. Let us stand together to protect this program, uphold health equity, and affirm the dignity and worth of every individual in our city.
Rev. Janette Wilson, Esq.
Rev. Dr. Janette C. Wilson currently serves as Senior Advisor to Rev. Jesse L Jackson Sr. and National Executive Director of PUSH For Excellence. She has worked with PUSH as a volunteer and/or staff member since she graduated from law school in 1980. Additionally, Dr. Wilson is the Senior Pastor of Maple Park United Methodist Church in Chicago, Illinois. Janette Wilson has earned a Master’s of Arts in Environmental Science from Governor’s State University, Juris Doctorate from UIC School of Law and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary as a Wyatt Tee Walker Fellow.
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