Illinois lawmakers gave hospitals and community health centers much of what they wanted this session by passing a bill that prohibits drug manufacturers from interfering with their access to discounted medications through a federal drug pricing program.
But they also gave drug companies what they wanted by passing another piece of legislation that calls on the Illinois Department of Insurance to conduct an audit to find out how much money these hospitals and clinics are making off that program, and what they are doing with the profits.
Both bills focus on the federal 340B drug pricing program, which requires drug manufacturers that participate in Medicaid to provide outpatient medications at substantial discounts to providers that serve large numbers of uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid patients. Those providers, in turn, typically mark up the price to support their operations.
