South Side Leaders, Patients Rally at Chicago State to Protect 340B Health Program

SOUTH SIDE -- Patients, healthcare providers and community leaders gathered March 1 at Chicago State University to celebrate the impact of the 340B Drug Pricing Program and to urge lawmakers to protect a system that many South Side families depend on for affordable medications and care.

The rally, part of the 340B Saves Lives ACTION Day, brought together community health centers, safety-net hospitals, and patient advocates from across Chicago to highlight how the program supports access to healthcare in neighborhoods across the South Side.

The 340B program allows eligible hospitals and community health centers to purchase prescription medications at discounted prices. Providers then reinvest those savings into expanded services for patients, including chronic disease management, cancer treatment, maternal care, behavioral health programs and “meds-to-beds” initiatives that help ensure patients leave the hospital with the prescriptions they need.

Advocates say those services are particularly important in communities like Roseland, South Shore and Greater Grand Crossing, where many families rely on local clinics and safety-net hospitals for primary care and specialized treatment.

Patient advocate Perla Herrera told the crowd the program has directly helped her maintain her health.

“340B affords me the ability to get life-sustaining medications, to have a better quality of life and a healthy life overall,” Herrera said.

Healthcare leaders warned that new restrictions imposed by pharmaceutical manufacturers on how 340B medications can be dispensed have begun to reduce savings for hospitals and clinics, threatening services that South Side patients rely on.

Dr. James Brooks, CEO of Lawndale Christian Health Center, said providers across Chicago are united in calling for legislative action to protect the program.

“Community health centers and safety-net hospitals all stand together and want to protect 340B,” Brooks said, urging lawmakers in Springfield to move forward with legislation designed to prevent pharmaceutical manufacturers from interfering with the program.

That legislation, House Bill 2371, would preserve the ability of hospitals and clinics to partner with local pharmacies to distribute discounted medications. Supporters say protecting those partnerships ensures patients can fill prescriptions close to home.

State Rep. Anna Moeller, who sponsors the bill, said the legislation is about safeguarding access to care for people who need it most.

“Access to affordable medication is not a luxury — it’s a lifeline,” Moeller said.

Organizers said the South Side rally was both a celebration of the program’s impact and a call to action. With healthcare costs rising and communities facing economic pressures, advocates say protecting 340B will help ensure that safety-net hospitals and community health centers can continue serving South Side families for years to come.