Prescription Drug Affordability

Maryland has made considerable gains in ensuring that quality healthcare is more affordable and accessible for residents of our state. However, expensive life-saving drugs– some of which are close to six figures for treatment– threaten to derail the progress made in expanding health coverage. Containing rising healthcare costs means containing prescription drug costs.

Prescription drugs account for one of the fastest-growing segments of health spending in the United States.

THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD

We thank the Maryland General Assembly for passing HB 768, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board legislation, in the 2019 General Assembly Session. Maryland is the first state in the nation to have a Prescription Drug Affordability Board which will work to make high cost prescription drugs more affordable for Marylanders.

This progress was made possible by the combined efforts of hundreds of members of the Prescription Drug Affordability Coalition. To learn more about the Coalition you can view a list of members and a logo flyer.  If your organization is interested in becoming a member of the Coalition, you can sign the resolution and join the fight to ensure all Marylanders are able to afford the medications they need!

Take Action!

• Have your organization sign the Prescription Drug Affordability Resolution.
• Share your story about how the high cost of prescription medication is impacting you or call (410) 235-9000.
• Sign up for our email list to receive action alerts.
• Read a summary of the law that went into effect July 1, 2019.
• View recent polling on Maryland’s support for a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
• Attend a listening session to share your experiences with a Board member.

PAST EFFORTS: 

2018 ELIMINATION OF THE “GAG RULE” ON PHARMACISTS

In 2018, together we helped Maryland become the eleventh state in the nation to ban the so-called “gag rule” by which some Pharmaceutical Benefit Managers prohibit pharmacists from telling consumers about the least expensive way to purchase their drugs. 

2017 MARYLAND’S ANTI-PRICE GOUGING LAW

In 2017, we helped Maryland become the first state to grant the Attorney General the authority to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for “unconscionable” increases in the prices of generic or off-patent drugs. Unfortunately the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that this law is unconstitutional.