"The 7th Congressional District deserves a voice in Washington who understands both sides — the policy and the people,” Ford said. “As a State Legislator, I’ve seen what happens when safety-net hospitals lose support. As your next Congressman, I’ll make sure federal healthcare dollars reach those they were meant to serve — the people who need them most."
For nearly two decades, State Legislator La Shawn K. Ford has stood on the side of fairness — fighting to make sure every family, every neighborhood, and every community hospital has access to the resources they deserve.
Now, as he campaigns to represent Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, Ford is sounding the alarm on a crisis that threatens the future of community healthcare: the misuse of the federal 340B drug discount program — a program designed to help hospitals serving low-income patients, not to fund expansion into wealthy suburbs.
“These funds were created to keep our safety-net hospitals open and our community clinics strong,” Ford said. “But when powerful hospital systems turn this lifeline into a profit engine, it leaves small providers — the ones who care for the underserved — fighting to survive.”
The 340B program, enacted by Congress in 1992, allows hospitals that serve a high percentage of low-income patients to buy prescription drugs at discounted prices. The intent was clear: those savings should be reinvested into care for vulnerable populations — expanding access to medication, preventive care, and essential services in communities that need it most.
But as large health systems have grown wealthier and expanded into high-income suburban markets, too many have lost sight of the program’s purpose. Meanwhile, smaller hospitals — in the 7th Congressional District — are struggling to keep their doors open.
Ford is calling for action — both in Springfield and Washington — to bring transparency and accountability to the 340B program. His vision includes:
Public reporting requirements for how 340B savings are spent;
Clear limits to prevent funds from being redirected away from low-income areas;
Protection for community hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that depend on 340B revenue to serve the uninsured and underinsured.
“I’m listening to everyone — hospitals, providers, and patients,” Ford said. “Businesses will always look out for their bottom line, but government must look out for the people. We can protect our community hospitals, protect patients, and still ensure fairness in the system.”
This fight is deeply personal for Ford, whose district has some of the highest Medicaid enrollment and health disparities in the state. Hospitals like Loretto and West Suburban, as well as local FQHCs, rely on programs like 340B to provide essential care.
“The 7th Congressional District deserves a voice in Washington who understands both sides — the policy and the people,” Ford said. “As a State Legislator, I’ve seen what happens when safety-net hospitals lose support. As your next Congressman, I’ll make sure federal healthcare dollars reach those they were meant to serve — the people who need them most.”
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege — and Ford’s commitment is clear: restore fairness, demand accountability, and protect access for every family in the 7th Congressional District.
