By Dr. Michele Taney, Director of Pharmacy

Dr. Michele Taney, Director of Pharmacy

The 340B drug pricing program plays a behind-the-scenes but vital role in how Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) serves our patients. It helps fund services like medication home delivery, school-based health centers, and integrated care for chronic conditions. Oregon House Bill (HB) 2385 ensures that the program works as intended — supporting health centers like ours and reducing access barriers for people across the state.

What is HB 2385?
This bill helps protect the integrity of the 340B program by requiring that any changes to how it operates be made through public policy, rather than drug manufacturers or third parties choosing not to participate. It’s a necessary safeguard that keeps the program functioning fairly and equitably — especially for safety-net providers like NHC.

Why it Matters to Our Patients
For many of our patients, especially those living in rural areas, access to affordable medications can be a real challenge. Under current restrictions, some drug manufacturers only allow 340B-priced medications to be dispensed at the NHC Canby Pharmacy. That means a patient in Hillsboro might need to travel a long distance just to get the medication they need.

HB 2385 increases access to affordable prescriptions by allowing more local and contracted pharmacies to provide 340B medications. Providing access for patients in their communities, close to home, cuts down on transportation time and cost and ensures that medication access isn’t determined by zip code.

More Than Just Medications
The 340B program doesn’t just support affordable medications — it supports people. Revenue generated through NHC’s 340B contract pharmacies allows us to fund critical programs and services, including:

• Access to in-clinic pharmacists who provide medication support and chronic disease management
• Free pharmacy home delivery services
• Medication access at school-based health centers (SBHCs)
• Integrated services for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and Hepatitis C treatment

With fewer restrictions, we could expand these services — like delivering medications to our clinics for easier pickup, and providing wraparound care that combines primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. This kind of coordinated care makes a real difference for underserved patients.

A Step Toward Health Equity
Revenue from 340B also supports NHC’s sliding fee discount program, helping uninsured and underinsured patients get the medications and care they need. The passage of HB 2385 in Oregon ensures that we can continue putting patients first — regardless of their insurance status or income level.

For us at NHC, this bill isn’t just about a program — it’s about people. It's about ensuring that everyone, no matter where they live or what they earn, can access the care and medications they deserve.