(Bismarck, ND) — A judge says a law passed in 2025 enriches hospitals and pharmacies at patients’ expenses. The ruling on Monday criticizes HB 1473, which was intended to provide access to medication subsidies for low income patients in the state. The subsidies are provided under a federal program called 340B, but the program doesn’t require the discounts to be passed to the patient. It just provides hospitals and clinics the opportunity to participate in the program and then pass the discounts down to patients. Drug manufacturers are required to participate in 340B in order to be part of Medicaid and Medicare.
