Introduction
Ask any pharmacy leader at a safety-net hospital what 340B means to them, and you’ll hear it all—lifeline, necessity, pressure, potential. The program plays a critical role in making care accessible, especially for patients who face the steepest barriers. But behind the scenes, it’s become harder to manage.
Shrinking budgets. Staffing shortages. Evolving policies. For many hospitals, just keeping pace with regulatory requirements is an ongoing challenge. The bigger question—how do we use 340B to drive long-term impact?—often gets pushed to the side.
A Familiar Story: Doing More with Less
If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. We hear from hospital teams who are spending their days buried in reconciliation reports, manually validating eligibility, preparing for audits—all while trying to maintain day-to-day operations.
340B has become something they manage, not something they can lead with. And that’s a missed opportunity.
Because in today’s environment, simply maintaining the program isn’t enough. It has to become part of a larger strategy—one that supports care delivery, financial resilience, and operational clarity.
What Hospitals Are Really Asking For
When we talk to leaders across the country, the themes are strikingly similar:
- “We need to see the full picture—not just reports.”
- “We’re stretched thin. Help us automate what we can trust.”
- “Make it easier to connect pharmacy data to financial decisions.”
These aren’t feature requests. They’re signals. Behind each is a team asking for relief, clarity, and control. The real ask? A program that delivers confidence—not just compliance.
Bringing It All Together
The hospitals that are elevating their 340B performance aren’t necessarily investing more—they’re aligning better. Instead of piecing together reports from siloed systems, they’ve created a unified approach that connects pharmacy operations to finance, compliance, and strategy.
They’ve moved beyond the basics and started asking better questions:
- Where are we losing value?
- What can we automate?
- What decisions can we make today that set us up for tomorrow?
As Wyley McCoy, Senior Vice President of Medication and Supplies at The Craneware Group, explains: “The most effective 340B programs are those that connect pharmacy operations to a broader financial and clinical strategy.”
Real Results, Not Just Reports
Here’s what that shift looks like in practice:
- Teams gain time back and move from firefighting to forward planning
- Audit prep becomes structured and predictable
- Savings are secured more consistently—and with less stress
- Leadership has clear, real-time insight into performance and risk
And just as importantly, everyone—from pharmacy staff to CFOs—can refocus their time and energy on improving care instead of just checking boxes.
This Is What Strategic 340B Looks Like
You don’t need more tools. You need the right visibility at the right time, and a framework that empowers action. Strategic 340B programs don’t rely on luck—they rely on alignment, automation, and insight.
It’s about reclaiming time, reducing guesswork, and building a program that supports the mission instead of straining it.
Conclusion
340B isn’t just another operational requirement—it’s an opportunity to drive meaningful, measurable impact. With the right approach, you can shift from managing a mandate to building momentum.
Because the future of 340B isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about choosing what’s possible.
Ready to take the next step with your 340B program? Visit our Trisus Business of Pharmacy Suite for more information.