How the 340B drug discount program affects medicine access and health for Medicare patients
Impact of the 340B Drug Pricing Program on Medication Utilization, Health Outcomes, and Disparities in Medicare
This project looks at whether a federal drug-discount program helps Medicare patients, especially disadvantaged older adults, get and afford their medicines and have better health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231698 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the research team will examine Medicare prescription and medical records to see how hospitals using the 340B program prescribe and dispense outpatient drugs. They will compare medication use, adherence, and health outcomes at 340B hospitals versus non-340B hospitals and look for differences across race, income, and other measures of disadvantage. The team will pay special attention to Part D (pharmacy-dispensed) drugs, building on prior work that focused mainly on physician-administered drugs. Findings will be used to understand whether the program improves access or unintentionally leads to higher-cost or inappropriate prescribing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to Medicare beneficiaries, especially older adults with chronic conditions (including Alzheimer's/dementia) who get outpatient drugs through Part D and receive care at hospitals or clinics participating in 340B.
Not a fit: People who are under 65, have private drug coverage, or do not fill prescriptions through Medicare Part D are unlikely to be directly affected by this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify whether 340B improves medication access and health for Medicare patients and guide policy changes to reduce treatment disparities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research on 340B focused mainly on physician-administered (Part B) drugs and produced mixed and limited evidence, so robust analysis of Part D effects is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desai, Sunita — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Desai, Sunita
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.