Access To Oncology Services In Rural Areas: Influence Of The 340B Drug Pricing Program

Rural-urban cancer disparities, including greater mortality rates, are partially attributable to the limited availability of oncology services in rural communities. Without these services, rural residents may experience delays in timely treatment and may be less likely to complete recommended care. The 340B Drug Pricing Program allows eligible not-for-profit and public hospitals to purchase covered outpatient drugs, including high-cost oncology drugs, at discounted prices. Using 2011-20 data, we evaluated the relationship between new enrollment in the 340B program and oncology services initiation in rural general acute care hospitals that lacked oncology services in 2011. Compared with hospitals that remained unenrolled in the 340B program through 2020, hospitals that enrolled during 2012-18 were 8.3 percentage points more likely to have added oncology services as of 2020. The newly participating hospitals that added oncology services were disproportionately located in Medicaid expansion states and in counties with lower uninsurance rates. These findings suggest that the 340B program facilitates expanded access to oncology services in some rural communities, but opportunities remain to address disparities in the most disadvantaged service areas.