A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The SUSTAIN 340B Act aims to amend the Public Health Service Act regarding the 340B drug discount program. It introduces stricter requirements for contract pharmacies, child sites, and patient definitions to ensure program integrity. The bill establishes a new data clearinghouse to prevent duplicate discounts and increase transparency. It also implements a user fee program to fund oversight and auditing activities. Additionally, the act includes provisions to prevent discrimination against participating entities and pharmacies.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +5
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?
The bill aims to strengthen the 340B drug discount program to help providers maintain access to affordable drugs.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates new transparency requirements for contract pharmacy arrangements and program savings.
- Scored +4
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
By protecting the 340B program, the bill helps safety net providers expand patient access to healthcare services.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Would business owners be better off under this?
Participating entities and pharmacies face increased regulatory burdens and new user fees.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Program Integrity: The bill introduces stricter rules for contract pharmacies and child sites to prevent drug diversion and duplicate discounts (Section 3-E).
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Enhanced Transparency: Covered entities must make information regarding their contract pharmacy arrangements available on a Department of Health and Human Services website (Section 3-D).
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Protection Against Discrimination: The act prohibits group health plans, insurance issuers, and pharmacy benefit managers from discriminating against 340B entities or pharmacies (Section 11-A).
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Patient Financial Assistance: Covered entities are required to ensure their financial assistance policies are transparent and available in plain language (Section 10-A).
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Standardized Patient Definitions: The bill establishes specific criteria for what constitutes a "patient" to ensure consistent application of the program (Section 4-A).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Regulatory Burdens: Covered entities and contract pharmacies face new requirements for registration, annual recertification, and maintaining auditable records (Section 3-C).
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New Costs for Entities: A user fee program will be established, requiring covered entities to pay quarterly assessments to fund program oversight (Section 12-A).
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Strict Audit Protocols: Entities may be subject to more frequent or additional audits by the Secretary or manufacturers to ensure compliance (Section 3-E, Section 4-A).
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Eligibility Delays for Child Sites: Newly acquired or constructed child sites may face a delay in their eligibility to participate in the drug discount program (Section 6-A).
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Potential Sanctions: Failure to comply with new requirements or corrective action plans could lead to entities being ineligible for the program or facing civil monetary penalties (Section 4-A, Section 8-A).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — The bill aims to strengthen the 340B drug discount program to help providers maintain access to affordable drugs. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By protecting the 340B program, the bill helps safety net providers expand patient access to healthcare services.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates new transparency requirements for contract pharmacy arrangements and program savings. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal oversight and auditing authority through the Secretary of HHS.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill protects drug discounts for entities serving low-income patients. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill supports the Medicare program which is a primary source of income for retirees. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill supports programs like Medicare and Medicaid which are critical for seniors. Would business owners be better off under this? — Participating entities and pharmacies face increased regulatory burdens and new user fees.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill supports safety net providers that serve low-income and underserved populations.
- 8/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia