Two of Ohio’s leading community health centers, Centerpoint Health and Primary Health Solutions, are calling on state lawmakers to pass House Bill 276 and Senate Bill 198, bipartisan legislation that protects access to affordable medications and care for Ohioans through the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Every day, community health centers serve on the front lines of care for Ohioans who might otherwise go without. Together, Primary Health Solutions and Centerpoint Health provide medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to tens of thousands of patients across Butler, Montgomery, and Warren counties.
“These bills do not expand the 340B program—they protect it for the safety-net providers Congress intended,” said Stephen Roller, President & CEO of Primary Health Solutions. “The 340B program helps us stretch limited resources, reduce drug costs, and reinvest every dollar of savings into patient care and community health.”
The 340B Drug Pricing Program, established by Congress with bipartisan support, allows safety-net providers like Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to purchase medications at discounted rates and reinvest those savings in patient services. According to the Congressional Budget Office (September 2025), FQHCs spent the most of all federal grantees on 340B medications in 2021— $2.4 billion, representing 6% of total 340B purchases nationwide. By contrast, 99% of all cancer drugs purchased through 340B are by hospitals, underscoring that 340B savings at community health centers are used to expand primary care access, not high-cost specialty drug markets.
“The 340B program is one of the most effective tools we have to improve access to care,” said Kent Youngman, CEO of Centerpoint Health. “For our patients, these savings translate into affordable prescriptions, expanded behavioral health services, and prevention programs that help families stay healthy and avoid costly hospital visits.”
Both leaders emphasized that Ohio’s community health centers are subject to strict federal and state oversight, including regular audits by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). All 340B savings must be reinvested directly into patient care — ensuring accountability, transparency, and measurable community benefit.
At Primary Health Solutions, this model translates into:
- 48,474 patients served annually
- 187,123 unique encounters, with 56% covered by Medicaid
- 17 care sites across Butler and Montgomery counties, including seven school-based health centers
At Centerpoint Health, this model translates into:
- 5,304 patients served annually
- 15,870 visits for the 2024, 70% covered by Medicaid
- 2 sites in Butler and Warren counties
“HB 276 and SB 198 safeguard this model,” Roller added. “They ensure that health centers can continue delivering affordable, high-quality care to the people who need it most — from school-based programs to addiction recovery and chronic disease management.”
Both CEOs urged the Ohio General Assembly to act quickly to pass the bills, ensuring that health centers remain strong and sustainable for the more than 1 million Ohioans who rely on them each year.
“Protecting the 340B program means protecting patients,” said Youngman. “Our workforce, our communities, and the health of Ohio depend on it.”