After years of bipartisan deliberation, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has introduced legislation to strengthen and protect a federal drug pricing program. Known as 340B, the program has helped Virginia hospitals and clinics and others nationwide care for underserved patients by requiring pharmaceutical companies offer prescription discounts to qualifying providers. But some hospital chains were caught taking advantage of the program to shortchange patients, and state and federal lawmakers have spent years weighing potential reforms. A pillar of the bill, Kaine said, is protecting up-front discounts for participating providers rather than the rebate model some of his colleagues and President Donald Trump have favored. Health systems’ inflated participation in the program over the years “led to this odd situation where they had less requirements,” Kaine said.