Olympia – A bill to protect prescription drug discounts under the 340b program was voted out of the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness, Wednesday. Senate Bill 5981, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver), would prohibit manufacturers or third parties acting on behalf of a manufacturer from restricting the acquisition of drugs under the 340B Drug Pricing Program (340B program). The 340B Program was created by Congress in 1992 to allow certain health care safety net providers to access outpatient drugs at a discounted price. Under the program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services enter into agreements with drug manufacturers that participate in Medicaid, requiring the manufacturer to offer to sell covered drugs to covered entities - such as ...