Ryan Fournier, co-founder and acting national chairman of Students for Trump, said that most 340B savings flow to wealthy hospitals rather than patients and called for reforms to address Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) abuses — an issue garnering attention in New York. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
“New report finds 78% of 340B benefits go to wealthy nonprofit hospitals, NOT patients,” said Fournier. “It’s wrong – you know it, President Trump knows it and he’s fixing it in Washington. Let’s help Trump, reform 340B!”
According to researchers from the University of Southern California (USC), HRSA’s allowance of unlimited contract pharmacies expanded the 340B program from 1,300 locations in 2010 to more than 33,000 by 2024, with about 68% run by major chains. They note that misaligned incentives enable for-profit chains and third-party administrators to capture substantial revenue. Transparency about how much of this value reaches patients remains limited, and critics point to PBM steering and spread-pricing practices that rarely reduce patient out-of-pocket costs.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that market consolidation gives three PBMs—CVS Caremark, Express Scripts (Cigna), and Optum Rx (UnitedHealth)—control over approximately 79% of U.S. prescription claims. The agency said PBMs’ opaque practices and vertical ties can inflate drug costs and disadvantage independent pharmacies, leading to increased scrutiny of how PBMs profit within arrangements like 340B. Policymakers are now considering measures such as delinking, spread-pricing bans, and tighter disclosure requirements to curb PBM leverage.
Only 24% of New York’s 340B contract pharmacies are located in medically underserved areas. Meanwhile, 86% of New York’s 340B hospitals provide charity care below the national average. Employers are also estimated to pay $445 million more annually due to lost rebates tied to 340B claims, which can translate into higher costs for workers.
Fournier is an American conservative activist and commentator best known as co-founder (and acting national chairman) of Students for Trump, a youth movement launched in 2015 to mobilize campus support for Donald Trump. His role and substantial social media presence have made him a prominent advocate on Republican policy priorities, including health-care reform. He also drives campus voter outreach efforts and uses platforms like X/Instagram to rally support for 340B reform and PBM transparency.
