March 16, 2026
New revenue from SB 987/HB 484 would help fully fund Medicaid and make private health insurance more affordable through the Maryland Health Connection
BALTIMORE, MD — Advocates will release new polling (see here) showing strong statewide support for fully funding Medicaid and for legislation that would eliminate a state tax deduction for direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. The legislation also redirects the resulting revenue to protect health care coverage for lower-income Marylanders.
A new analysis by Public Citizen, a national nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, found that ending these corporate advertising tax breaks would generate about $24 million annually in state tax revenue.
This revenue would come at a critical moment. In the coming years, hundreds of thousands of Marylanders will face potential coverage losses due to federal policy actions enacted by Congress and the Trump administration last year.
WHAT: News conference to announce poll results related to Medicaid budget asks and SB 987/HB 484 to end the state tax cut for drug corporations’ patient-focused advertising.
WHO: Vincent DeMarco, President, Maryland Citizens Health Initiative
Steve Raabe, President, OpinionWorks
Nikki Highsmith Vernick, President and CEO, Horizon Foundation
Bobby Laughlin, Baltimore resident with threatened health care coverage
Loraine Arikat, Senior Policy Analyst, 1199 SEIU
Rev. Kenneth O. Phelps Jr., Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network
Rev. Sandra Conner, President, Ministers Night Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity WHEN: Monday, March 16, 2026 @ 10:00 AM
WHERE: Episcopal Diocesan Center, 4 E. University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218. Free parking is available onsite. The event will also be livestreamed here. There will be media availability for speakers after event.
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QUOTES
Steve Raabe, President, OpinionWorks – “Maryland voters strongly back efforts to protect health insurance programs for residents. And by an overwhelming margin, Marylanders support the proposal to end the tax deduction for drug commercials and commit the new revenue to health care.”
Vincent DeMarco, President, Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative – “There is no need for the state to subsidize Big Pharma’s exorbitant spending on direct-to-consumer drug advertisements. Ending this unnecessary tax break will generate at least $23 million a year, which will help Maryland keep more people insured. This bill puts care over commercials.”
Nikki Highsmith Vernick, President & CEO, Horizon Foundation – “As federal cuts threaten to end health insurance for many Marylanders, especially for communities of color, the state must act to help as many people as possible maintain their coverage. This legislation would end an unnecessary tax break for big drug manufacturers and dedicate important resources to Medicaid and keeping health insurance premiums affordable. We urge the General Assembly to support this commonsense measure and help more Marylanders achieve healthier lives and ease economic stress.”
Additional Facts about SB 987/HB 484
The legislation mirrors federal proposals to end tax deductions for direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. This approach would raise an estimated $1.5–$1.7 billion annually at the federal level.
The United States is one of only two countries that allow prescription drug companies to advertise directly to consumers. Pharmaceutical manufacturers spent more than $14 billion in a single year on these ads. Taxpayers are footing the bill for patients to be flooded with unwanted and repeated exposure to ads touting prescription drugs that 82% of Americans say are unreasonably priced.
Under the legislation, the revenue generated by ending the tax deduction would be used in two ways:
• $5 million annually would be invested in Medicaid eligibility operations, helping the state prevent coverage losses caused by federal policy action that added new red tape and administrative hurdles.
• Remaining funds would support state insurance subsidy programs through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, helping stabilize premiums and keep coverage affordable for individuals and families purchasing insurance on the marketplace.
Last modified: March 16, 2026
