Reducing Drug Prices for Seniors Act

# Reducing Drug Prices for Seniors Act (HR 1244) — Plain Language Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill aims to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries by changing how the patient's share of the drug cost is calculated. Currently, patients' copayments and coinsurance (the percentage of the drug cost they pay) are based on the drug's list price. The bill would instead base these patient costs on the actual negotiated price that Medicare plans pay to pharmacies—which is typically lower than the list price. This would pass savings directly to seniors at the pharmacy counter. **Who it affects and key details:** The bill primarily affects Medicare recipients who take prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part D.

It also indirectly affects Medicare drug plans and pharmacies. The key change is using "actual acquisition cost" (the negotiated, discounted price) rather than "wholesale acquisition cost" (the higher list price) to calculate what seniors pay. This means seniors would benefit from price discounts that currently only reduce what the insurance plan pays, not what patients pay out-of-pocket. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.