Under current rules, a weird quirk in the system sometimes makes brand-name drugs cheaper for an insurance company to provide even if the sticker price is higher, because the drug maker gives the insurance company a secret refund (rebate). However, the patient often doesn't see that refund and ends up paying a high percentage of the brand-name drug's original price, making the generic version look more expensive to the senior at the pharmacy counter.

If this bill becomes law, it would ensure that the actual cost-saving benefits of generic drugs are passed directly to the patient. It tackles 'middleman' practices that keep drug prices high for consumers and ensures that the cheapest available medicine is also the easiest one to access, potentially saving seniors hundreds of dollars a year on chronic medications.