To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to equalize the negotiation period between small-molecule and biologic candidates under the Drug Price Negotiation Program.

This bill would delay when Medicare can start negotiating prices for many prescription drugs. Right now, most pills (small‑molecule drugs) can be picked for negotiation after 7 years on the market, while biologic drugs have an 11‑year wait. The bill makes the wait 11 years for pills too, matching biologics. This change would apply retroactively, meaning it’s treated as if it were part of the original Medicare negotiation law from the start .

What this could mean in daily life: Medicare may take longer to negotiate lower prices for many common drugs, which could delay possible savings for the program and for people on Medicare who use those medicines.

Key points

• Who is affected: People on Medicare who use brand‑name prescription drugs, especially pills.
• What changes: The wait time for Medicare to negotiate prices for most pills increases from 7 to 11 years, matching biologics .
• When: The change applies retroactively, as if it were in the original law already .