New ad campaign features local leaders thanking the PDAB for its efforts to control spiraling drug costs
September 29, 2025
BALTIMORE—Local leaders from four jurisdictions today came together before the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to thank it for moving toward setting upper payment limits for state and local governments for two widely prescribed medications, Jardiance and Farxiga, after finding both pose affordability challenges.
“The Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition greatly appreciates the actions of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board and its tireless work toward bringing down the cost of drugs for local and state governments. We urge the Board to quickly proceed with setting upper payment limits on these two medicines, to grant governments some much-needed relief so they can rightly re-focus their resources on providing public services,” said Vincent DeMarco, President of Maryland Health Care for All! “We’re grateful also to the local leaders who stood up today to urge the Board to take this action, and for appearing in our ad campaign to raise awareness around the Board’s efforts to make prescription medicine affordable for all Marylanders.”
Currently the Board has the authority to cap costs of drugs purchased by state and local governments. Legislation passed earlier this year gives the PDAB the ability to set upper payment limits on private plans beginning in 2026, which will bring down drug costs for all Marylanders. The Board is expected to take action soon to hold down the costs paid by state and local governments for the widely used medications, saving taxpayer money.
Four local leaders appeared before the PDAB today to commend it for moving towards setting upper payment limits on the two medications.
“I’m grateful that the Maryland PDAB continues to lead in the effort to make prescription medications affordable,” said Steuart Pittman, Anne Arundel County Executive. “Setting upper payment limits for these two medications will be a great first step toward containing the spiraling health care costs that are crippling state and local governments and impeding our ability to offer comprehensive health care coverage to our hard-working civil servants.”
“This is an important step to address soaring prescription drug costs for two medications that so many Baltimoreans and Marylanders across the state depend on,” said Brandon M. Scott, Mayor of Baltimore. “Big Pharma companies are bleeding cities and counties dry, with price increases that put lifesaving health care out of reach for far too many government employees and their families. I urge the Board to pass these upper payment limits, which will help so many people get the care they need at a price they can afford.”
“I applaud the outstanding work of the PDAB to date and urge it to move as quickly as possible to set upper payment limits for these two popular medications, which so many of our employees and their families depend on,” said Reuben B. Collins, Charles County Commissioner President. “Their action will go a long way towards alleviating the cost burden imposed on local governments and ultimately borne by taxpayers.”
“The work of the PDAB will be a huge boon to state and local governments that are grappling with sky-high drug costs,” said Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive. “I urge the board to take action to set upper payment limits for these two life-saving medications. Because no worker should be forced to choose between their medicine and necessities like rent and groceries.”
“I commend the PDAB for its’ historic work towards reigning in ever-increasing drug costs for state and local governments,” said Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive. “Today’s action will result in significant cost savings, allowing us to prioritize spending on providing much-needed public services rather than inflated health care costs.”
The Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition also today launched a digital ad campaign, featuring Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, Charles County Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott. The campaign is designed to build public awareness of the work of the PDAB and urge support for its efforts toward bringing down drug costs for all Marylanders.
The PDAB is an independent agency created in 2019 by the Maryland legislature with the authority to make high-cost drugs more affordable. The board was the first of its kind in the nation. Three other states – Colorado, Minnesota, and Washington—have since created similar boards with upper-payment limit authority.
Last modified: September 29, 2025
