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Hospital leaders urge lawmakers to act on 340B bill in final week of session
Hospital leaders say the bill would keep discounted drug access in place and add attorney general enforcement before the current law expires.
- Rural hospital leaders gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol on Tuesday to urge passage of House File 3609, a bill designed to strengthen enforcement of the 340B federal drug pricing program before the legislative session ends.
- The 340B program allows qualifying facilities to purchase discounted medications, but current legal protections expire in July 2027, prompting calls for permanent enforcement by the Minnesota attorney general.
- CEO and administrator Kimber Wraalstad noted that North Shore Hospital receives about $260,000 annually from 340B for essential services while managing operating losses greater than $2 million in a region where the next hospital is 80 miles away.
- Calling lobbying efforts "complete baloney," Minnesota Hospital Association CEO Rahul Koranne urged lawmakers to "not let a billboard put up by a trillion-dollar pharmaceutical company" dictate their position on local patient care.
- With the Minnesota Legislature constitutionally required to adjourn on Monday, May 18, Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar and other supporters argue the measure is too critical to delay, describing 340B as essential to keeping rural hospitals operational.
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Hospital leaders urge lawmakers to act on 340B bill in final week of session
ST. PAUL — With less than a week remaining in the Minnesota Legislature’s 2026 session, rural hospital leaders gathered Tuesday at the State Capitol in support of HF 3609, a bill that would shore up an existing 340B enforcement law. “I think that our speaker and leadership on both sides are dealing with a lot of issues right now,” Rep. Dave Baker, R-Willmar, said at the Tuesday, May 12, press conference. “We want to elevate this one as being a r…
·Fargo, United States
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Total News Sources16
Leaning Left0Leaning Right8Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Right
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Right
67% Right
C 33%
R 67%
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