Most Patients Don’t Know 340B—But HF 3609 and SF 2959 Affect Them

In Minnesota, lawmakers are advancing two bills—HF 3609 and SF 2959—focused on the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.

If you’ve never heard of 340B, you’re not alone.

But here’s what most patients don’t realize:

You could be receiving care through a 340B hospital or clinic right now—and have no idea how it affects what you pay.

That’s why these bills matter.

Because while HF 3609 and SF 2959 aim to protect the program, they still don’t answer the most important question:

What does 340B actually do for patients?

What Is the 340B Program (And Why It Exists)

The 340B program is a federal policy designed to help certain hospitals and clinics serve more patients.

Here’s the idea in simple terms:

• Drug companies must sell medications to certain hospitals at deep discounts
• These hospitals are meant to use those savings to expand care and support patients

That’s the goal.

But what happens in practice is often very different—and not visible to patients.

What Happens Behind the Scenes

When you fill a prescription at a 340B hospital or clinic:

1. The hospital may purchase the drug at a discounted price
2. Your insurance—or you—may still be charged the full price
3. The hospital keeps the difference

That difference can be large.

And here’s the part most patients never hear:

You are almost never told this is happening.

What HF 3609 and SF 2959 Actually Do

Both bills focus on protecting and extending the current 340B system in Minnesota.

HF 3609 (Minnesota House Bill 3609)

• Allows the state to treat violations as deceptive trade practices
• Gives enforcement power to the attorney general
• Removes the expiration date so these protections become permanent

SF 2959 (Minnesota Senate File 2959)

• Also removes the expiration date on the current law
• Ensures the policy continues beyond 2027

In plain English:

• These bills make sure hospitals can continue accessing discounted drugs
• They prevent manufacturers from limiting that access
• They strengthen enforcement at the state level

But they do not address what patients actually experience.

The Question HF 3609 and SF 2959 Don’t Answer

If a hospital makes money from your prescription:

• Shouldn’t you know?
• Shouldn’t you benefit?
• Shouldn’t there be transparency?

Right now, under both HF 3609 and SF 2959:

There is no requirement to tell patients anything.

The Patient Right to Know

At Patients Rising, we believe this should be standard:

If your care is part of a government program generating savings, you have a right to know how it affects you.

That includes simple, clear answers to questions like:

• Was my prescription filled under 340B?
• How much did the hospital save?
• Did I receive any of that savings?

Today, most patients cannot get those answers.

What’s Missing From HF 3609 and SF 2959

While these bills protect the 340B system, they do not require:

• Patient notification
• Public reporting of savings
• Proof that patients benefit
• Lower out-of-pocket costs

So while the program is preserved and strengthened…

The patient remains invisible.

Why This Matters for Real People

This isn’t just policy language. It affects real lives.

Across the country:

• Patients are struggling to afford medications
• Families are taking on medical debt and some are even filing for bankruptcy
• People are skipping doses because of cost

At the same time:

• Hospitals participating in 340B can generate significant revenue
• There is little transparency about where that money goes

If patients are generating the profit through their prescriptions, shouldn't they be afforded some of that savings? 

Minnesota Has an Opportunity to Lead

HF 3609 and SF 2959 show that Minnesota is willing to act on 340B.

But real leadership means going further.

Lawmakers could strengthen these bills by adding:

• A Patient Right to Know requirement
• Clear reporting on 340B savings
• Accountability tied to lowering patient costs

Because protecting a program is not the same as protecting a patient.

The Bottom Line

HF 3609 and SF 2959 will expand and solidify 340B protections in Minnesota.

But they leave one critical issue unresolved:

Patients still won’t know if—or how—the program affects them. 

That’s the gap.

And it matters to the thousands of patients helping to generate the profits for hospitals enrolled in the 340B drug pricing program. Tell your legislators Patients Have a Right to Know and a Right to Benefit from the 340B program. 

Call to Action

Are You a 340B Patient?

You might be—and not even know it.

👉 Join the Patients Rising Community
👉 Learn how 340B impacts your care
👉 Help us push for a Patient Right to Know