NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Ridge, was recently honored with the Caryl E. Carpenter Excellence in Community Support Award for advocating for expanded access to affordable prescription drugs in Tennessee.
The award was presented to Helton-Haynes by the Tennessee Primary Care Association (TPCA) in part for her work passing a new law to ensure drug manufacturers do not interfere with the contract pharmacy arrangements of 340B safety net providers. These arrangements allow vulnerable Tennesseans to receive medications at contract pharmacies that dispense drugs on behalf of 340B entities.
“Ensuring Tennesseans have access to affordable and high-quality health care is vital to our state’s success,” said Helton-Haynes. “Protecting 340B lifelines will promote the well-being of vulnerable Tennesseans by helping them obtain essential low-cost medications. I’m honored to receive this award from the TPCA and I look forward to continuing our work to make Tennessee healthier and even more prosperous.”
The Caryl E. Carpenter Excellence in Community Support Award recognizes individuals who support community health centers and advocate for expanding access to primary health care services.
The bipartisan new law passed by Helton-Haynes protects 340B entities from excessive requirements imposed by drug manufacturers that do not apply to non-340B pharmacies. It also grants the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office (AG) the authority to ensure access to program discounts without interference from drug manufacturers.
Established by an act of Congress in 1992, the 340B program aims to stretch scarce federal resources and improve the health of low-income, uninsured, and underinsured Americans. It allows pharmaceutical manufacturers to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to specific non-profit safety-net healthcare organizations known as 340B covered entities. In Tennessee, safety net providers include St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Erlanger Baroness Hospital, and Cempa Community Care.
The TPCA represents Tennessee’s community health centers and seeks to improve access to primary health care.
State Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes of East Ridge represents House District 30, which includes part of Hamilton County. She is chair of the Insurance Subcommittee and also serves on the Insurance Committee, Health Committee and Population Health Subcommittee.
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