Northern Light CA Dean Hospital 340B Benefits

FY23 savings: $866,784

Northern Light CA Dean Hospital is a member of Northern Light Health, and as a member, we are committed to building a better healthcare system for all the people of Maine. Our mission is to improve the health of the people and communities we serve. Participation in the 340B program helps us to provide comprehensive healthcare services and life-saving prescriptions to our community.

As a 340B hospital, we purchase medications for qualified patients at reduced rates from drug companies. The savings are reinvested in services and programs that benefit the patients we serve. While some services are covered by insurance, some Medicare and MaineCare services are reimbursed at payment rate below the actual cost to provide care. Other services provide significant benefit to our patients but are not covered by any insurance program. In addition to programs and services in the areas identified below, Northern Light C. A. Dean Hospital experienced losses associated to free “charity” care provided last fiscal year amounting to nearly $400,000 dollars. We are committed to our patients, their families, and each other and will provide the care needed, no matter what the situation.

Please see a list below of some of the benefits provided to our community through this program.

340B Program Benefits

Nursing Level of Care
Piscataquis County is the oldest, poorest, and sickest county in Maine. Isolation, depression, and access to resources has also been identified as a top health risk for older adults in this region, according the 2019 Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment. With support of 340B, CA Dean can provide the only long-term care unit in the area, allowing for the ability to keep many older residents closer to their families and near necessary healthcare resources.

Specialist Care 
We understand the challenge that patients and families experience when they travel long distances to access specialty care. Savings from the 340B program helps support Northern Light CA Dean Hospital specialists to care for patients in our local community as the cost of providing these services exceeds the reimbursement we receive. 
 
Transportation Support
Northern Light CA Dean Hospital has transportation services available to patients in our service area who have trouble getting to and from their appointments. Our demographics and the unpredictable weather in our area makes it challenging for patients to sometimes get to their appointments.

Primary Care Clinical Pharmacy Services
Northern Light Primary Care has implemented a pharmacist into the practices. The pharmacist provides medication management for patients and helps to make sure that medications are taken properly and that the patients’ medication lists are current.
 
Community Paramedicine
With the referral from a primary care provider, paramedics can make home visits for patients who may need some extra assistance whether it be to check on the patient’s well-being, medication questions or assistance, or caring for a wound, community paramedicine is an asset that is needed in our area where home health is not as available as other locations. Savings from the 340B program help to offset the costs of this service where it is not reimbursable.
 
The Importance of Maintaining the 340B Program
As Mainers, we are in this together. And, at Northern Light Health, we are dedicated to ensuring our communities have access to the very best in healthcare. We tirelessly advocate to make sure essential services are maintained close to home for you. Reducing or eliminating our participation in the 340B program would greatly increase the risk of not being able to provide these services to our patients.