Washington State Saves a Critical Health Care Safety Net, Says AHF

OLYMPIA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed SB 5981, which helps protect Washington’s health care safety net.

SB 5981 prevents drug companies from denying a safety net provider access to discounted drugs (purchased via the 340B Drug Pricing Program) when the provider contracts with pharmacies in the community to dispense drugs to the providers’ patients.

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Specifically, the law prevents drug companies from denying a safety net provider access to discounted drugs (purchased via the 340B Drug Pricing Program) when the provider contracts with pharmacies in the community to dispense drugs to the providers’ patients.

“The 340B program is a lifeline for rural hospitals, Ryan White clinics serving people living with HIV, community clinics and other safety net providers and the patients they serve,” said Laura Boudreau, Chief of Operations/Risk Management and Quality Improvement for AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). “The program basically cuts drug prices so that safety net providers who participate in the 340B program have the resources they need to provide more services to more patients. By enacting this law, the Governor has taken a critical step to protect Washington’s safety net, while not costing the state any money, since the discounts are provided by the drug companies, not the state. Thank you, Governor Ferguson, and thank you Senator Annette Cleveland and Representative My-Linh Thai for sponsoring the bill, making sure the safety net in Washington remains strong.”

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.8 million individuals across 50 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. In January 2025, AHF received the MLK, Jr. Social Justice Award, The King Center’s highest recognition for an organization leading work in the social justice arena. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.