Ohio Health Centers Need HB 276 and SB 198 to Protect Access to Care

Every day, community health centers like Signature Health serve on the front lines of health care for Ohioans. We serve more than 34,000 patients in Cuyahoga, Lake and Ashtabula counties, many of whom would otherwise go without affordable medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. That access is now at risk, and the General Assembly has the power to protect it.

We strongly support House Bill (HB) 276 and Senate Bill (SB) 198, which safeguard patient access to affordable medications through the federal 340B program.

The 340B Program was a deal struck by Congress with pharmaceutical manufacturers to voluntarily provide discounts to safety net providers like community health centers in exchange for preferred access to Medicare and Medicaid and all the profits that go along with that access. But the manufacturers are trying to avoid providing those discounts. Congress created the 340B program so safety-net providers could stretch scarce resources and reinvest the savings into patient care. That’s exactly what happens at Signature Health. 340B savings allow us to: 

• Lower or eliminate prescription costs for patients who cannot afford them;  
• Provide free mailing, courier delivery, and bubble-packing options for those facing transportation, mobility, or medication adherence barriers; 
• Expand access to primary care, mental health/addiction treatment; and  
• Provide dental services in Painesville, a “designated dental shortage area."

Put simply: 340B turns discounts at the pharmacy into real programs that save lives, reduce costs, and strengthen local communities.

Health centers differ from other providers because we serve patients, regardless of ability to pay, often as the only provider in under-resourced areas of our state. Signature Health has designed programs for the people who most need us: 

• A 24/7 Mobile Crisis service for behavioral health emergencies 
• A Mobile Clinic offering screenings and care in rural Ashtabula County 
• A Care at Home program delivering behavioral health services to older adults where they live 
• Transportation support and robust telehealth capacity to reach patients who can’t come in

These are not just policy concepts; these are real, measurable supports – lifelines. One patient in our Care at Home program told us, "[This] has made such a difference for me...My case manager has been with me every step of the way. When I see the nurse practitioner, it's immensely helpful. I wouldn't be able to do it with telehealth. I only have an old-fashioned phone. If I didn't have these people, I don't know where I'd be."

Stories like this are common in our health centers. They reflect a care model that emphasizes prevention, community connection, continuity, and access for all. If HB 276 and SB 198 fail, the likely result will be fewer affordable prescriptions and points of access – especially in communities already short on care. Patients will delay treatment, conditions will worsen, and costs will rise downstream in emergency rooms and hospitals. Ohio will pay more for worse outcomes.

The choice before lawmakers is straightforward: HB 276 and SB 198 hold pharmaceutical companies to the original 340B commitment so that savings reach the patients and clinics that need them most. These bills safeguard care that is local, preventive, and affordable, reinforcing a proven public-private partnership that strengthens the safety net, supports working families, and stabilizes community health.

We urge legislators to pass HB 276 and SB 198 so community health centers remain strong, sustainable, and ready to meet rising need. Our patients, our workforce, and the health of our neighborhoods depend on it.

About the Authors:
Jonathan Lee serves as CEO, and Dr. Libbie Stansifer serves as Chief Clinical Officer at Signature Health, a community health center focused on providing integrated care and hope when patients need it most.