October 24, 2024
Contact: Vincent DeMarco
WHAT: News conference with legislative leaders to push for expanded authority for the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board
WHEN: Thursday, October 24, 2024, 11 a.m. at the Miller Senate Office Building Media Room, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 and livestreamed at www.facebook.com/@mdhealthcareforall
WHO: Senator Dawn Gile (Anne Arundel County), lead sponsor Vice Chair Bonnie Cullison (Montgomery County), lead sponsor Delegate Jennifer White Holland (Baltimore County), lead sponsor, AARP Maryland Senior Director of Advocacy Tammy Bresnahan, Maryland Citizens Health Initiative President Vincent DeMarco and Jonas Nguh, patient hurt by high-cost drugs
Legislators will join local officials and advocates to call on the General Assembly to expand the authority of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and allow it to set upper payment limits on high-cost prescriptions for all Marylanders.
Leaders of the Maryland General Assembly on Tuesday, October 22nd, approved the PDAB’s plan to set upper payment limits for high-cost prescriptions purchased by state and local government – the first time a state has established a plan to limit such costs.
The newly approved plan will give the PDAB the authority to cap the cost that state and local government pay for certain expensive medications, which will save taxpayer spending on expensive drugs. Under current state law, the PDAB has the authority only to set limits on the costs paid by government agencies for certain high-cost drugs. Legislation to be introduced in the 2025 General Assembly session would expand the PDAB’s authority to set payment limits.
“The PDAB has worked diligently to come up with a plan to bring down the cost of some prescription drugs purchased by state and local government, and now it’s time to expand the Board’s authority statewide,” DeMarco said. “The PDAB has proven that it takes a fair and balanced approach to bringing down drug costs, and the General Assembly should expand the Board’s authority and allow it to bring down costs for drugs purchased by all residents in the state.”
The PDAB’s actions are the first by a state drug board in the nation and echo the recent actions by the federal Medicare program to negotiate lower costs for several high-cost drugs, which will generate significant savings for the program.
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Last modified: November 12, 2024
