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4/1/2026
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Thundermist awards Rep. Brien for support of discount prescription program
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 STATE HOUSE — Thundermist Health Center presented Rep. Jon D. Brien with its annual Cannistra Award.
The award, which was named in honor of Dr. Francesco Cannistra, a founding medical director of Thundermist, is presented annually to an individual or group who has contributed to improving health care in Rhode Island. The award was presented Wednesday morning at the agency’s annual breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.
Representative Brien was honored for his sponsorship of a law that protects a critical discount pharmaceutical program that enables safety-net hospitals, clinics and other health care agencies, including Thundermist, to provide care to the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders. The law prohibits insurers, pharmacy benefits managers and other payors from engaging in discriminatory practices against agencies that purchase prescriptions through the federal 340B discount program. As a community health center, Thundermist relies heavily on the 340B program, with $28,528.099 of its revenue coming from 340B, grants, contracts, gifts and fundraising. Of that number, the 340B program accounts for 37%.
“I am overwhelmed and humbled by this honor,” said Representative Brien (I-Dist. 49, Woonsocket). “The discriminatory tactics that were previously used were an assault on the health care system, and in particular on the programs that provide lifesaving services to people who can least afford health care. I’m pleased we have closed the loophole that allows this abuse, to prevent our safety-net programs from being bled dry, leaving Rhode Islanders without the care they need.”
Thundermist Health Center is a nonprofit, federally qualified community health center. Founded more than 55 years ago, it now serves more than 63,000 patients — or 1 in 18 Rhode Islanders. Last year, Thundermist cared for more than 65,000 patients, the most in its history.
PHOTO CAPTION: Rep. Jon D. Brien (I-Dist. 49, Woonsocket) is presented with the Dr. Francesco Cannistra Memorial Award for his support of legislation protecting the 340B discount prescription program. With him is Linda Cannistra, daughter of the late Dr. Cannistra. The award was presented Wednesday at the Thundermist annual breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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