When I think of Eastern Oklahoma, I think of some of the most beautiful lakes in the country and the busy summertime towns. During my time as a medical professional and Chief Medical Officer of the Northeastern Oklahoma Community Health Centers (NeoHealth), I’ve come to love the off seasons as well. The hardworking, kind people are what make Oklahoma home to me.
This is not to say that it is all perfect though. Many of Oklahoma’s rural areas have been greatly affected by many challenging economic issues. One of the most pressing problems facing these areas is closure of rural hospitals. Just last year in Eufaula, the Epic Medical Center shut down, making it the 3rd rural hospital to close in Oklahoma that year. This is a national phenomenon; across the country, 600 rural hospitals are at risk for closing. But it is especially prevalent here at home, where 41 rural hospitals are in financial distress.
When these hospitals close, not only do many people lose access to care and have to travel very far to the next nearest hospital, but economically a town suffers. Hospitals are some of the largest employers in the area. From doctors, nurses, to janitors, towns, especially rural towns need hospitals to provide jobs along with patient care.
To be sure, there are a number of factors causing tough times for rural health centers, hospitals, and medical providers, but the rising cost of prescription drugs is one of the most prevalent. Fortunately, there is one program that helps patients and medical providers, that is the 340B Prescription Drug Discount Program. The 340B Drug Discount Program is a deal between health centers, hospitals and drug providers that allows drug providers access to the Medicaid market in exchange for giving rural providers a break on drug prices and offering them at a slightly reduced cost.
This program began in the 1990’s and has been successful since its implementation. The 340B Program has been incredibly valuable to reduce prices, bill on a sliding scale based on income, and routinely serve uninsured patients at NeoHealth.
340B has been critical in helping patients access the medications they need and it saves money for taxpayers as well, who fund the Medicaid program. Without the 340B Program many rural hospitals may not be able to stay open and patients may not be able to get the prescriptions they need. This would be a tragedy for already-struggling areas in rural Oklahoma.
Our Representative Markwayne Mullin knows about the importance of this program to Oklahomans. He grew up in rural Oklahoma and owns a business here as well. As a congressman that is still connected with his constituents, I hope now more than ever he represents his people’s interests in Washington by helping protect the 340B program.
Dr. Kenneth Gibson is the Chief Medical Officer of the Northeastern Oklahoma Community Health Centers and is a provider at the Hulbert Health Center in Hulbert, Oklahoma with specialties in family medicine, addiction treatment, and pain management.
