Leadership Dialogue

For more than 30 years, the 340B Drug Pricing Program has provided financial help to hospitals serving vulnerable communities to manage rising prescription drug costs. The savings it generates allows hospitals to stretch limited resources, sustain vital services and expand access to care where it’s needed most. Currently, 340B is a key priority for the AHA as this program is at risk as potential regulatory, legal and legislative changes in 2026 could diminish these benefits.

On this episode, Tina Freese Decker, 2025 chair of the AHA Board, is joined by Aimee Kuhlman, AHA vice president of advocacy grassroots and government relations, and Paulette Davidson, CEO of Monument Health based in Rapid City, S.D.

Freese Decker, Kuhlman and Davidson discuss why the 340B program is important to patients, providers and communities and what’s at stake as changes loom in 2026. Davidson also talks about how Monument Health uses 340B savings to expand access to care and services in the community. The three health care leaders stress how to take action to support participating hospitals: by continuing to tell local stakeholders and elected officials the many stories of how the 340B program improves people’s lives.

This conversation was recorded on Nov. 17, 2025.