Human services: medical services; requirement to prescribe generic medications; provide for. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 109z.

HB 4839 requires Michigan's medical assistance program (like Medicaid) to cover only generic drugs when a brand-name equivalent exists, unless a doctor specifically indicates otherwise on the prescription. Doctors can override this by writing "dispense as written" or "d.a.w." on a written prescription, initialing a preprinted statement allowing substitution, or verbally specifying brand-name use. This directly affects patients enrolled in Michigan's medical assistance program and healthcare providers writing prescriptions for covered medications. The bill aims to standardize coverage toward cost-effective generic drugs while preserving physician discretion in specific cases.