Opinion: Connecticut consumers deserve better than more 340B abuse

CT Examiner – Tuesday, May 5, 2026
By Leslie Herod

From the perspective of healthcare consumers, this session of the Connecticut General Assembly provides opportunities to improve the enormous challenges faced by healthcare consumers, but several bills represent the potential for serious harm to consumers as well.

Specifically, a section of Senate Bill 494 related to the Federal 340B Drug Discount

Program poses serious financial and medical harm to Connecticut’s most vulnerable patients. The provisions would allow UConn John Dempsey Hospital to join the thousands of financially well-off non-profit hospitals across America with unlimited authority to abuse 340B drug discounts.

Both the National Caucus of Black Legislators and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators have taken a strong stance against the current abuse of the 340B system. They cite the harm inflicted on communities of color and vulnerable patients by hospitals pocketing billions in 340B profits while shirking care.

And earlier this year, at a joint meeting of the state legislative budget committee, a number of legislators were told point blank by a hospital executive that hospitals buy certain 340B

drugs for pennies on the dollar while charging patients full price! This naked profiteering has been getting increasing attention from state legislatures across the country, and for good reason.

The 340B provisions in SB494, while ostensibly helping providers who use the program properly, would also empower UConn Hospital to create unlimited outlets around the country (through pharmacy contracts) to abuse the 340B system and overwhelm the small community providers that serve those most in need. These contracts are the engine of 340B abuse and must be reined in. I serve as Executive Director of the Consumer Health & Advocacy Information Network (CHAIN). CHAIN is dedicated to raising the voices of those who often get left behind in the fight for fair and equitable health care. I joined CHAIN after serving four terms as a member of the Colorado General Assembly and Chair of the Black Legislative Caucus, fighting on the front lines to provide communities with the health care they need.

Now CHAIN is engaged in a robust digital public information and advocacy campaign to support at-risk patients and contain hospitals profiting from the 340B program. We ask that the state assembly oppose the 340B provisions in SB494 to ensure Connecticut continues to protect vulnerable patients.

Leslie Herod, Executive Director of the Consumer Health & Advocacy Information Network (CHAIN)

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