Joe Biden is preparing to launch one of his presidencys most far-reaching reforms an initiative that could make a significant difference in the lives of everyday Americans and that consistently polls well, although at this point relatively few people seem to realize its happening.

The initiative seeks to make prescription drugs cheaper for Medicare and its beneficiaries by instructing the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, to negotiate the prices of certain medications directly with their manufacturers.

The process formally starts with the naming of the 10 drugs that will be subject to negotiation in the initiatives first year. Administration officials intend to make that announcement early this week, probably on Tuesday morning in advance of a White House event, according to sources privy to plans. Politico first reported those plans last week.

Governments of other economically advanced countries have long set all drug prices through some sort of negotiation or direct regulation. Now the U.S. government has a chance to do this too, although it will only be for drugs in Medicare. And the first set of newly discounted drugs wont actually be available in the program until 2026.

Still, its a big change that comes after decades of activism, advocacy and agitation and its happening, finally, due to the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act , which Democrats in Congress passed and Biden signed one year ago.

Supporters say the new price negotiation process could provide critical, even lifesaving financial relief to people with big medical expenses, while reducing the overall financial burden that Medicare places on taxpayers and premium-paying beneficiaries.

The drug provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act really are historic over time, David Mitchell , president and founder of the Patients for Affordable Drugs Now advocacy group, said last week on a conference call for reporters.

But critics say that negotiation could mean smaller financial rewards for innovation, making it more difficult for drug companies to attract the investment they use to underwrite research and development of newer, better treatments.