East Alabama Health Chief Legal Officer Briefs Congress Members on Importance of Drug Discount Program

Roben Casey, East Alabama Health’s chief legal and governance officer, visited Capitol Hill on Sept. 11 with two hospital representatives from other states to brief members of Congress about the importance of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The 340B Drug Pricing Program requires drug manufacturers who participate in Medicaid and Medicare to provide drug discounts to eligible healthcare providers.

“The purpose of the program is to help qualifying hospitals and healthcare providers stretch scarce federal resources so they can provide more comprehensive care to underserved patients,” Casey said. “Without 340B, many hospitals like EAMC (East Alabama Medical Center) would be unable to maintain many of the comprehensive services that their communities rely on.”

Casey has worked for East Alabama Health for over three decades, during which she has held various management and administrative positions. As chief legal and governance officer, Casey’s responsibilities include risk management, legal affairs, medical staff services and regulatory affairs. 

Casey has served on the 340B Health board of directors since May 2024. As a membership organization, 340B Health monitors, educates and serves as an advocate on federal legislative and regulatory issues related to drug pricing and other matters affecting safety-net providers. 

“Roben is a tremendous asset to our organization, and we are incredibly proud of her and her accomplishments,” said Laura Grill, president and CEO of East Alabama Health. “Our vision is to be a national leader in quality, cost and service, so having an organizational leader like Roben serve on a board dedicated to helping 340B hospitals sustain and advance their focus on providing exceptional care to their patients and communities is just one example of how seriously our organization pursues that vision.”

The 340B Program was enacted in 1992 under the Public Health Service Act.

-###-

About East Alabama Health

East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital that is currently under construction to add 30 critical care beds. EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital provides emergency and outpatient services while its campus also features a nursing home and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,800 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University.