The 340B Drug Pricing Program has become one of the most controversial programs in the U.S. healthcare system. The program was established in 1992 to help safety net providers stretch federal resources and better serve vulnerable populations by allowing eligible hospitals and clinics to purchase outpatient drugs at steeply discounted prices. However, disputes over the program’s money flow, oversight and misuse have fueled decades of conflict among providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and lawmakers.

Some argue that 340B is a lifeline for struggling hospitals and clinics, and others portray it as a loophole that allows health systems to profit from discounts intended for people with little to no income.

Over time, the 340B program has grown to include many large health systems — m

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