Committee approves MOU to participate in 340B drug pricing program for public health supplies

The Chautauqua County Human Services Committee voted July 16 to authorize a memorandum of understanding with the New York State Department of Health to continue the county Health Department's participation in the 340B drug pricing program.

Lacey Wilson, public health director, told the committee the MOU formalizes continued access to discounted products the department uses for sexually transmitted infection prevention and other outreach: condoms, educational materials and discounted pharmaceuticals when applicable. "The 340B drug pricing program is something that designated entities throughout the states and counties are designated by state DOH to receive these discounted prices on, products like condoms, educational materials, and things," Wilson said.

Wilson described the action as an administrative recertification intended to ensure compliance with recent federal and state oversight changes. She said county health departments have participated for years and that the county executive typically signs off on the recertification, which occurs roughly every three to five years. "We certainly have always been doing the way that we should. So, it's really just a state, kind of measure that they're putting in place to, ensure compliance," she said.

Committee members recorded assent and approved the resolution to authorize the MOU.

The MOU does not change the department's stated uses of the program: providing prevention supplies and educational materials as part of public-health outreach.