This important information was shared by the DC Primary Care Association, which is one of AJE’s partner organizations in the Keep DC Healthy Coalition:

On April 8, 2026, AbbVie filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia challenging HRSA’s definition of a “patient.”

AbbVie’s lawsuit sets a dangerous legal precedent and adversely impacts Community Health Centers (CHCs) and their patients.

• AbbVie Inc., a large pharmaceutical company, is suing HRSA to unilaterally narrow the 340B patient definition. By reducing eligibility for the 340B Program, fewer CHC patients will be able to access affordable medications, especially those managing chronic diseases who depend on life-changing and lifesaving drugs and specialist care.
• The lawsuit directly challenges a major health care policy in federal court, rather than working with all stakeholders to enact critically needed 340B reforms through a bipartisan legislative process.

On Monday, July 6, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) took legal action by joining HRSA in defense of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. 

• CHCs make up the nation’s largest primary care system, serving 52 million or 1 in 7 Americans (Weitzman Institute, 2025), including 1 in 3 in rural areas. The 340B Drug Pricing Program is essential to that mission, enabling CHCs to purchase medications at reduced costs and pass those savings on to patients through lower drug prices, expanded services and greater access to care.
• NACHC represents over 800 CHCs that have built their 340B compliance practices, pharmacy operations, referral workflows, telehealth practices and patient-eligibility determinations around the text and interpretations of the 340B statute. Along with an administrative burden, CHCs would face a clinical burden of excluding certain prescriptions from 340B treatment even where the CHC continues to provide, coordinate, or support the individual’s care.
• CHCs could be exposed to costly manufacturer audits, repayment demands, and corrective-action disputes based on a patient-definition standard that neither Congress nor HRSA has adopted.

Take Action Now!

Send AbbVie a letter urging them to end their lawsuit against HRSA and pursue a collaborative process with all health care stakeholders to ensure the long-term stability of the 340B program for CHC patients who depend on affordable medications and access to care. 340B drug savings cannot be diverted from patient care to corporate profits, ultimately making Americans sicker, not healthier.

How can advocacy make a difference in this moment?

• Your voice supports NACHC’s position in this lawsuit, emphasizing the importance of the 340B program to CHCs’ ongoing patient care and operational stability nationwide.
• NACHC is committed to working with Congress to make meaningful reforms to the 340B program. For years, health centers, PCAs and HCCNs have advocated for 340B legislation at the state and federal level. This is a continuation of that strategy.
• NACHC is committed to keeping members up to date on new developments as they happen. Stay informed by subscribing to NACHC’s Washington Update newsletter for the latest policy and advocacy updates.

Contact grassroots@nachc.org with any questions. Thank you for your advocacy!