Much noise has been made by critics about the number of hospitals in the 340B drug discount program. Indeed, the number has doubled since 2010. Before you assume the worst, know this: Almost all of the newcomers are tiny rural hospitals with 25 beds or less. These facilities (plus three freestanding cancer hospitals) account for only 3 percent of annual 340B drug spending.
The number of DSH hospitals in the program has, in fact, dropped 4 percent since 2012.