Latest news with #FQHCs
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
At No Cost to Federal Government a Lifeline for America's Communities
As the U.S. healthcare system wrestles with rising costs and deepening disparities, one federal program quietly continues to serve as a financial and clinical lifeline for millions of Americans: the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Since its inception in 1992, 340B has enabled safety net hospitals, community health centers, and other providers to purchase outpatient medications at reduced prices. These savings aren't about boosting bottom lines—they're about keeping doors open, expanding access to care, and delivering essential services for all. At its heart, 340B is about getting medicine—and the healthcare services needed to ensure their safe and effective use—to people who otherwise might go without it. It empowers hospitals that serve high numbers of uninsured and modest-income patients, as well as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Ryan White clinics that reach the working poor. The savings realized under 340B are not pocketed. These providers invest funds directly into programs that offer mental health services, treat substance use disorders, fund mobile clinics, and support chronic disease management. In many cases, access to the 340B program is the determining factor in whether a provider can afford to keep its pharmacy open to serve those who would otherwise go without treatment. The 340B program is a small program with big benefits. The discounts provided account for only 3% of drug companies' global revenues . At the same time, drug price increases continue to rise faster than inflation. In the United States, where drug companies already benefit from federally supported insurance programs and drug prices that are over three times higher than the rest of OECD countries, the 340B program is a reasonable accommodation to meet their obligations to be good corporate citizens. While the impact of the 340B program on drug companies is minimal, the impact on health is significant. Take community health centers, for example. These organizations are often the only providers in rural towns or urban neighborhoods. With the help of 340B, they can offer sliding scale fees, reach out to patients who are unhoused or living in poverty, and provide preventive care and health screenings that are crucial in addressing rising healthcare costs. For diseases like diabetes, 340B drug pricing ensures access to both medications as well as the patient education and healthcare provider services needed to effectively manage a complex chronic condition. In short, they make health more than a buzzword—they make it real. Hospitals also depend on 340B to sustain emergency rooms, neonatal intensive care units, and oncology programs. Small rural hospitals in particular often rely on these savings to remain operational. When one of these facilities shuts down, the consequences are immediate and severe: longer travel times for urgent care, delayed treatments, and a deeper strain on already stressed healthcare systems. Despite its impact, 340B has come under fire from some in the pharmaceutical industry and others who argue the program is being misused or lacks sufficient oversight. While oversight improvements are a worthy discussion, such criticisms ignore the real-world pressures providers face: skyrocketing drug prices, declining reimbursements, and the increasing demand for services as the population ages and grows more medically complex. Along with reasonable reforms that support program integrity, it's time to make common sense changes to reduce the regulatory burden on providers and let them focus on their main job—delivering high-quality health care to all. In the current budgetary environment, maintaining the 340B program is more important than ever. The program doesn't add to the federal budget. Instead, it gives healthcare providers the means to stretch existing resources further—just as Congress intended. Reducing or eliminating the 340B program to increase the profit of global pharmaceutical companies would shift costs to patients while simultaneously putting additional strains on state and federal budgets at the worst possible time. Undermining the 340B program would not just threaten individual institutions—it would unravel an already fragile health infrastructure. The people most affected would be those with the fewest options: modest and low-wage workers, rural residents, and those without insurance. The 340B program is a critical bridge between affordability and access, between policy and people. While reforms of the program may be useful, it is imperative they be guided with an overarching goal of improving how the program works for patients, not of providing a windfall for pharmaceutical manufacturers, who have experienced record profits since the program's inception. Weakening the 340B program would be short-sighted and harmful. Strengthening it is a fiscal imperative—for hospitals, clinics, and all communities. Author: Jane L. Delgado, Ph.D., M.S., is a highly esteemed and in-demand analyst and thought leader. She is the President and CEO of an NGO, Healthy Americas Foundation (HAF). She sits on the boards of the U.S. Soccer Foundation (Chair, Audit), McLean Hospital (Belmont, MA), the National Biodefense Science Advisory Board, the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute (Investment Committee), and Argonne National Labs (Chair, Compensation).
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Medicus IT Names Roopak Manchanda as Executive Vice President of Community Health
Healthcare IT and community health leader to scale company's footprint and deepen impact in community-based care ALPHARETTA, Ga., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicus IT, a leading U.S. healthcare solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Roopak Manchanda as Executive Vice President of Community Health. A seasoned healthcare IT and community health leader, Manchanda will concentrate on scaling the company's reach and impact across a more holistic spectrum of Community Health Centers (CHCs) and nonprofit healthcare organizations, including hospice care, rural health centers, and other mission-driven providers. Manchanda's career in community health spans more than 20 years, most recently serving as CEO at Washington, D.C.-based BlueNovo, a premier provider of physician and patient-centered healthcare, quality, and technology services for community health centers (CHCs). During his tenure, he collaborated closely with CHC leaders across the country until the company's acquisition by Medicus IT in 2024. Manchanda also has held CIO roles at several prominent organizations, including the California Primary Care Association (CPCA), Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA), Mosaic Medical, One Community Health, and JPA Health Center. "Roopak's hiring underscores our deepening commitment to community health and focus on delivering impactful and mission-aligned technology solutions that support the essential work of public health providers," said Chris Jann, founder and CEO of Medicus IT. "His passion and proven experience partnering with community health providers bring renewed momentum to our shared goals: expanding access to care, enabling scalable practice growth, and strengthening cybersecurity protection for the underserved populations they serve." "Throughout my career, I've been passionate about helping community health centers harness technology in ways that are practical, sustainable, and rooted in the needs of the patient populations they serve," said Manchanda. "I'm honored to join a company like Medicus IT that shares my commitment to standing alongside these devoted leaders and not just as a technology advisor, but as a true ally in advancing health equity and community-centered care." Medicus IT supports approximately 10% of the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) addressable market and estimates that approximately 1,000 of these health centers are likely to outsource their services. Having mission-driven, non-profit status, many tend to be in need of higher expertise to scale and run enterprise operations that may exceed their staff's capabilities. Recognizing that many CHCs are facing record-breaking patient volumes and unprecedented financial challenges, Medicus IT remains committed to sustaining local primary care clinics by enhancing IT systems, streamlining workflow, and driving cost efficiencies and improved outcomes. "Medicus IT is a trusted resource for specialty and community health practices, offering day-to-day technology support and long-term strategic planning," added Roopak. "Health centers are more than places for care – they're lifelines for millions of Americans. We have the technology and expertise to help non-profit and safety net clinics boost efficiencies and confidently navigate today's challenges." Journalists: Download a photo of Roopak Manchanda here. About Medicus ITMedicus IT is committed to helping healthcare organizations leverage technology to optimize patient care and deliver better patient outcomes. Moving beyond traditional IT, Medicus helps its healthcare clients run their IT infrastructure, grow their operations, and transform their organizations. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, with service centers in New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Arizona, California, and North Carolina, Medicus is one of the nation's top healthcare IT providers, serving over 6,500 providers, with more than 50,000 users across 2,500 locations. Follow us on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Together, we drive healthcare forward™. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Medicus IT Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Don't let Big Pharma's out-of-state lobbyists undermine Oklahoma's drug program
Will Rogers once said, 'This country is bigger than Wall Street. If they don't believe it, show 'em the map.' That wisdom is alive in the Oklahoma Legislature, where lawmakers are standing up to Big Pharma ― the $6 trillion pharmaceutical industry ― by rejecting its attempts to protect profits at the expense of rural Oklahomans' access to health care. The same industry that spends billions convincing you to buy their latest drugs is working behind the scenes to block hospitals and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) from fully participating in the federal 340B drug program. Established by Congress over 30 years ago, 340B requires drug manufacturers to sell medications at reduced prices to qualifying hospitals and FQHCs, ensuring vulnerable communities have access to affordable care. Critical access hospitals (CAHs), which serve our most rural areas, automatically qualify ― yet the pharmaceutical industry is attempting to curtail their participation. This program costs taxpayers nothing. It's strictly regulated and subject to rigorous federal oversight. But that hasn't stopped Big Pharma from bankrolling misleading campaigns to manipulate public opinion and intimidate state lawmakers against supporting HB 2048. Authored by Rep. Preston Stinson and Sen. Brent Howard, the bill would ensure hospitals and FQHCs can fully participate in the program, safeguarding health care access across Oklahoma. Earlier this session, out-of-state pharma executives flew into our state to pressure lawmakers against supporting the bill. Their tactics backfired. The Oklahoma House of Representatives soundly passed the bill, rejecting Big Pharma's deception, and Oklahomans should, too. The same industry responsible for 300,000 opioid deaths is using its financial influence to deploy so-called 'patient advocacy' groups to defend its obstruction to this vital program. These organizations, funded by Big Pharma, protect industry profits, not patients. More: My daughter has Type 1 diabetes. New bill will hurt vulnerable patients like her. | Opinion Consider diabetes. Three companies control 90% of the insulin market, yet they charge Oklahomans nearly 10 times what patients in other countries pay. According to the OECD, the U.S. manufacturer price for insulin averages $98.70, compared to just $8.81 in other countries. For those with Type 2 diabetes, semaglutide medications offer hope. But once again, Big Pharma exploits American consumers. According to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, the list price for Ozempic is $936 per month in the U.S. ― five times the price in Japan and 10 times that in Europe or Australia. Oklahoma ranks fourth nationally in diabetes mortality, yet residents pay more for life-saving medication. Under Big Pharma's rules, Americans pay retail while the rest of the world pays wholesale. Last year, a federal appeals court upheld Louisiana's 340B protections. Oklahoma's proposed law mirrors Louisiana's, yet Big Pharma continues fighting nationwide to block access to this vital program ― including here in Oklahoma. Don't be fooled by dark money ads and pharma-funded advocacy groups that vilify our rural hospitals and FQHCs. It's time to put Oklahoma patients first and stand up to a trillion-dollar industry that only shows up when their profits are at stake. Rich Rasmussen is president and CEO of Oklahoma Hospital Association. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Big Pharma trying to undermine Oklahoma's drug program | Opinion
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Medical Guardian Expands Remote Monitoring to Strengthen Chronic Disease Management and Reduce Hospital Readmissions
New Cellular-Connected RPM Devices Deliver Actionable Health Insights to Improve Outcomes and Support Value-Based Care PHILADELPHIA, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Guardian, a leader in digital health and safety solutions, has introduced a new line of cellular-connected remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices designed to provide real-time health tracking for blood pressure, oxygen levels, and weight. These at-home health monitoring devices support chronic disease management by giving healthcare providers and health plans immediate, actionable insights to detect health trends early, enable timely interventions, and reduce preventable hospitalizations. Integrated into MGEngage360, Medical Guardian's engagement-driven health monitoring platform, these RPM devices expand the system's ability to track key health indicators and support chronic disease management. Unlike traditional RPM solutions, Medical Guardian's devices require no pairing, Wi-Fi, or smartphone—eliminating common barriers to use. This makes digital healthcare a more accessible option for aging adults, caregivers, and underserved populations, especially those without reliable internet access or tech literacy support. Building on Medical Guardian's 2024 strategic acquisition of LifeStream, this expansion strengthens its ability to provide scalable, real-time health tracking for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, D-SNP, PACE, FQHCs, Home Health Agencies, and Senior Living Communities. It supports care coordination and helps providers meet key performance goals across HEDIS, CAHPS, and Home Health measures. These devices ensure patients and residents receive continuous health monitoring without additional technology or manual tracking, making it easier for providers to engage individuals while streamlining workflows. A Fully Integrated Approach to Remote Monitoring With hospital readmissions and chronic disease progression straining healthcare systems, MGEngage360's RPM integration delivers proactive, real-time health insights. The new blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, and weight scales provide continuous data on heart health, respiratory function, and overall wellness, allowing providers to detect early warning signs and act before conditions worsen. "Keeping people safe at home isn't just about responding to emergencies—it's about preventing them," said Geoff Gross, Founder and CEO of Medical Guardian. "Remote monitoring is most effective when it's easy, fits into daily routines, and is part of a system people already know and trust. With this expansion, we're giving healthcare providers real-time insights to better manage chronic conditions, prevent avoidable hospital visits, and keep members engaged in their health." Part of the Expanding MGEngage360 Platform This addition enhances MGEngage360, expanding its ability to provide more holistic health tracking and proactive care while keeping emergency response at the ready. Alongside fall risk assessment, wellness check-ins, reminders for preventive care appointments, and real-time alerts for caregivers and providers, the integration of vitals monitoring offers a more complete picture of a patient's health, enabling earlier interventions, better engagement, and improved long-term outcomes. About Medical Guardian Founded in 2005, Medical Guardian has supported more than 615,000 aging adults in staying safe and independent through digital health and safety solutions. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio—including Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS), Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), and Engagement Services—to help healthcare providers and health plans empower their members to live healthier, more connected lives. With a 95% member satisfaction score and a 4.7+ star rating on Google Reviews, Medical Guardian is recognized for its commitment to safety, reliability, and exceptional service. To learn more, visit Media Contacts: Amanda MandiaJacobson Strategic, on behalf of Medical Guardianamanda@ | (267) 992-8875 Mischa KregsteinSenior Director of Brand, Medical | (303) 250-3565 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Medical Guardian Sign in to access your portfolio
