The Alliance for Integrity and Reform of 340B (AIR340B), a national advocacy group funded largely by the pharmaceutical industry, issued a statement applauding the House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA) for sending letters to twenty 340B covered entities requesting information about the covered entities’ 340B programs, including how they calculate savings from the 340B program and use 340B savings to help patients.  As we previously reported, Ryan White clinics and FQHCs were among the covered entity types that received the letter.  In its statement, AIR340B repeats unsubstantiated allegations that the 340B program “has gone off track in the years since it was established” and that “there is evidence to suggest the benefits some 340B hospitals reap from this program do not support vulnerable or uninsured communities as intended.” AIR340B continues to insinuate that the original intent of the 340B program is to provide discounted drugs to patients.

We have also heard reports that AIR340B is planning an advocacy initiative in the next few weeks in which they will send letters to members of Congress and organize a social media campaign targeting legislators.  We have been informed that lobbyists for AIR340B have reached out to certain grantees asking them to send a letter to their members of Congress about the need for changing the 340B program.  If your organization is contacted by AIR340B about this grassroots campaign effort, please contact us at info@rwc340b.org.