{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hhs-to-investigate-drug-company-after-manchin-calls-on-them-to-protect-access-to-affordable-medicine-for-low-income-west-virginians", "HHS To Investigate Drug Company After Manchin Calls On Them To Protect Access To Affordable Medicine For Low-Income West Virginians", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 23, 2020\n\t\t\t HHS To Investigate Drug Company After Manchin Calls On Them To Protect Access To Affordable Medicine For Low-Income West Virginians \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington,\r\nDC  Today Health and Human Services (HHS) began an investigation of Eli Lilly\r\nand Company, one of the many drug makers who have made recent changes to\r\nrestrict access to the 340B Drug Pricing Program for safety net health\r\nproviders. This decision comes after Senator Manchin sent\r\na letter last week pressing HHS to protect this access. I\r\nam pleased that HHS is taking steps to protect access to safe, affordable\r\nmedicine for low-income families and healthcare providers. This formal\r\ninvestigation is a good first step, but we must do more. These companies have\r\ndecided that during the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed over 200,000\r\nAmericans, sent millions onto unemployment, and hurt our economy, they should\r\nstop providing discounts to certain healthcare providers that serve vulnerable\r\npopulations like many West Virginians. The 340B program provides essential\r\nsavings for healthcare providers and in return gives more West Virginians\r\naccess to affordable medication. I will continue to work with HHS to demand\r\nthese companies follow the 340B program regulations and provide affordable\r\nmedicines to Americans and West Virginians in need, as they have since 1992, said\r\nSenator Manchin. Recently,\r\na growing number of drug companies have taken steps to deny access to\r\ndiscounted drugs for 340B covered entities that use contract pharmacies, likely\r\nin violation of the 340B statute. These actions are restricting access to\r\nmedications, which have already been more difficult to purchase during the\r\nongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These changes are also negatively affecting West\r\nVirginia health centers and healthcare providers who rely on this program to\r\nprovide vulnerable West Virginians with quality, affordable care.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hhs-to-investigate-drug-company-after-manchin-calls-on-them-to-protect-access-to-affordable-medicine-for-low-income-west-virginians"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8378948550671339, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}