In this episode, we speak with Sarah Dodson, the 340B Program Director at Ascension Via Christi, the largest health care provider in Kansas. Sarah talks about her work with the Community Cares Clinic, which provides comprehensive and hands-on care for vulnerable patients. 

It’s also been a busy news month for 340B. In our news update segment, we discuss a drug manufacturer’s unprecedented new policy for refusing 340B pricing on one of its drugs to a covered entity that will be distributing that drug through a contract pharmacy. We also discuss new, bipartisan pro-340B legislation that has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. 

A Collaborative Approach for Patients: Community Cares Clinic is one of five services offered by Ascension Via Christi that work together to address the barriers and other challenges to patient health care.

Hands-On Health Care Services: The Community Cares Clinic is a nurse practitioner house-call model that sends nurse practitioners to the homes of patients with COPD or heart failure once per month or more frequently if needed. The service also includes access to a 24/7 telephone line for patients to speak with a nurse practitioner from the program. This helps a patient’s care team understand factors affecting patients outside of the hospital setting. With more knowledge about a patient’s lifestyle and environment, health care providers can offer personalized and targeted care. These efforts in tandem with other models of care have resulted in significant reductions in avoidable hospital admissions over the past few years.

The Role of 340B in the Community Cares Clinic: The savings generated by Ascension Via Christi’s 340B participation support the Community Cares Clinic, as well as the other four model services with which it partners.  

Replicating the Community Cares Clinic Model: Other hospitals looking to start programs like Community Cares should first identify key barriers for their patients such as the inability to leave their home for care. Hospitals should develop programs that address these barriers when providing services to their patients. 

Check out all of our episodes on the 340B Insight podcast website. You also can stay updated on all 340B Health news and information by visiting our homepage. If you have any questions you’d like us to answer on the podcast, email us at [email protected].

Episode Resources:

1.     340B Health Member Alert on Eli Lilly’s Contract Pharmacy Plan 

2.     Bipartisan Bill Would Protect 340B Status During Emergency

3.   Ascension Via Christi Community Cares Clinic

4.   340B Coalition Virtual Summer Conference