Ovetta Wiggin
Washington Post
October 31, 2017
If you have been the victim of price gouging for generic drugs, Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) wants to hear from you.
Frosh is joining with Maryland Healthcare for All, a health-care advocacy group, to identify possible victims of price gouging, a move made possible by a new state law allowing the attorney general to sue drug companies that dramatically increase the price of off-patent or generic drugs.
The advocacy group is gathering information about consumers’ experiences.
Maryland is the first state in the country to give its attorney general the ability to take legal action against the drug companies.
Frosh is holding back-to-back news conferences to get the word out about the new fight against price gouging. On Tuesday, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D), who is running for governor, joined Frosh in Montgomery County. On Wednesday, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, is scheduled to attend an event with Frosh in Baltimore.
Frosh and Maryland Healthcare for All, which has set up a website for victims to share their stories, are moving forward with the new law despite a continuing legal challenge against it.
The Association for Accessible Medicines, a generic-drug trade group, filed a federal lawsuit earlier this year arguing that the legislation is unconstitutional. The group unsuccessfully sought an injunction to keep the bill from taking effect Oct. 1.
Last modified: November 1, 2017
