Hon. Elbra Wedgeworth

In a compelling opinion piece received by Afrik Digest, former Denver City Council President Hon. Elbra Mae Wedgeworth has issued a strong call to action directed at Senator John Hickenlooper, urging him to lead the charge in reforming the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Her op-ed, titled “Senator Hickenlooper, Keep Fighting for Colorado Patients,” outlines widespread concerns about how the program has veered from its original purpose and is now leaving vulnerable communities behind.

Originally designed to help safety-net healthcare providers access discounted medications to better serve low-income and uninsured patients, the 340B program is increasingly criticized for being exploited by major hospital systems for profit. According to Wedgeworth, these institutions often mark up drug prices by astronomical percentages—sometimes billing union health plans up to 25 times the average price—without passing savings on to those who need them most.

Contract Pharmacies Under Scrutiny
A significant part of the problem, she writes, stems from the rapid expansion of contract pharmacies. Intended as outreach hubs for underserved areas, their numbers have ballooned nationwide to nearly 30,000. Yet, many are reportedly concentrated in wealthier neighborhoods, furthering gaps in care for rural and inner-city patients.

Under current arrangements, hospitals acquire medications at steep discounts, partner with retail pharmacies, and split the profits, often without patients even knowing they’ve received a 340B drug. With no clear eligibility standards, limited oversight, and opaque revenue reporting, Wedgeworth warns that the program now risks harming rather than helping Colorado communities.

A Call for Fairness, Transparency, and Accountability
She commends Senator Hickenlooper’s bipartisan work on the Senate task force examining the program, but emphasizes that decisive action is still needed. Key recommendations outlined in her op-ed include:

• Requiring hospitals to pass drug savings on to patients
• Limiting contract pharmacy arrangements to truly underserved areas
• Increasing transparency and public reporting of revenue use
• Establishing clear patient definitions and stronger oversight measures

Community Voices
Public programs must serve the public good, not private gain. As Colorado’s immigrant, union, and small business communities continue to navigate rising healthcare costs, voices like Hon. Wedgeworth’s echo with urgency and moral clarity. Her closing message, “Fixing 340B is not about politics or partisanship. It’s about people. It’s about fairness,” is resolute, and we are here for it.