Statement: Maryland’s first-in-the-nation Prescription Drug Affordability Board takes historic action to establish an upper payment limit on Jardiance for State and local government entities

April 13, 2026

The Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition commends Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board for the historic action they took today to move forward on establishing an upper payment limit for the diabetes drug Jardiance for State and local government entities. The PDAB estimates that this action could save State and local governments about $320,000 every year.  When the PDAB expands upper payment limits to help all Marylanders, pursuant to legislation enacted in 2025, this action on Jardiance could save our health care system tens of millions of dollars per year.  We are thrilled that Maryland has taken this important life-saving step, because we know drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them.  We would like to give special thanks to House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk who was the lead sponsor for the original 2019 legislation, as well as Governor Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson and our 2025 sponsors, Senators Dawn Gile and Brian Feldman and Delegates Bonnie Cullison and Jennifer White Holland. We call on other states around the nation to follow our lead and make high cost drugs more affordable for all.