Louisiana Senate Fails to Alter Election Law; 340B Program Growth Driven by Utilization, Not Price

In Louisiana, discussions arose regarding the possibility of eliminating the second primary in federal elections. This change would have allowed a candidate to win the primary with a plurality, rather than needing over 50% of the vote. Political analysts suggested this could benefit Senator Bill Cassidy, who might struggle in a head-to-head runoff. However, the Senate ultimately did not pursue this change.

Separately, the 340B Drug Discount Program, which requires drug manufacturers to sell outpatient drugs to various providers at discounted prices, has seen substantial growth. The program has tripled in size over the past decade, reaching $148 billion in 2024. While 340B advocates claim that rising drug prices are the cause, a data-driven analysis published in *Health Affairs Scholar* indicates that increased utilization is the primary driver of this growth. The study found that utilization accounted for over 100% of the growth in 340B from 2018 to 2024, while price contributed only a small fraction.

The 340B program requires drug manufacturers to sell outpatient drugs to eligible providers at discounted prices.

Payers are concerned about the increasing costs and subsidies associated with the program's growth.

Data analysis suggests that increased utilization, rather than rising drug prices, is the primary driver.

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