West Side Rally Demands Action on 340B Legislation

WEST SIDE -- West Side patients, healthcare providers, and community leaders gathered in North Lawndale this week to demand immediate legislative action on House Bill 2371, warning that delays in protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program put essential community care at risk.

The rally brought together voices from across the West Side who said the program is a cornerstone of neighborhood health and stability. Community health centers and safety-net hospitals in areas like Lawndale rely on 340B savings to keep medications affordable and services accessible for families facing rising living costs and ongoing health challenges.

State Rep. La Shawn Ford energized the crowd by framing the rally as a direct expression of public will. “This is what democracy looks like,” Ford said, leading chants urging House leadership to bring the bill up for a final concurrence vote. He warned that without action, providers will lack the resources needed to treat cancer patients, individuals struggling with substance use disorder, and those seeking preventive care.

Healthcare leaders echoed that sense of urgency. Mahomed Ouedraogo, CEO of ACCESS Community Health Network, said the math simply does not work without 340B. ACCESS serves roughly 150,000 patients each year, many of them on the West Side.

“That’s the difference between us being here and not being here,” Ouedraogo said, explaining that no amount of efficiency can replace the savings generated by the program. Without it, he warned, clinics could close and healthcare jobs could disappear from the very communities they are meant to serve.

Local voices from Lawndale emphasized that the fight is deeply rooted in lived experience. Dr. James Brooks, CEO of Lawndale Christian Health Center, told attendees that providers, patients, and elected officials must stand together to protect the healthcare safety net. He pointed to looming Medicaid cuts as an added strain, making 340B protections more critical than ever for West Side neighborhoods.

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis placed the issue in a broader historical and moral context. Drawing on his long career in public service and healthcare advocacy, Davis reminded the crowd that access to care has always required organizing and persistence.

“Healthcare ought to be a right and not a privilege,” Davis said, praising the turnout as evidence of community strength. He committed to pressing state leaders to act, telling advocates that unity is their greatest power.

Patient advocates drove home the consequences of delay. Perla Herrera told lawmakers that the solution is already on the table. “The legislation is here,” she said. “Now it’s time to act.” Jeremy, a caregiver for both his elderly mother and young nephew, explained that without 340B, families are forced into impossible choices. “When my pockets are hurt, the community’s pockets are hurt,” he said.

Organizers said the rally marks the beginning of sustained pressure on lawmakers until protections are delivered. For West Side residents, the message was clear: passing HB 2371 is essential to keeping clinics open, medications affordable, and care close to home.