FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2021
Contact: Vincent DeMarco
Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative Statement About General Assembly Override of Veto of Bill to Fund Prescription Drug Affordability Board
Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative President Vincent DeMarco released the following statement today after the Maryland House voted overwhelmingly (95-38) to override Governor Hogan’s veto of legislation from 2020 to establish funding for the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
“Today’s vote by the House of Delegates joining a State Senate vote last month is a great victory for the people of Maryland. With these votes, we now have a permanent funding source to support the crucial work of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board. We congratulate the House of Delegates, Speaker Adrienne Jones, the Maryland State Senate, and Senate President Bill Ferguson and all those in the General Assembly who stood with average Marylanders and supported this bill last year and during the 2021 legislative session (2020 SB 669 and HB 1095).
“The board has been hard at work and has heard form Marylanders who struggle to pay the high costs of many medications they need to stay healthy. With a permanent funding source, the board can continue its work finding solutions to address rising drug costs.
“This vote continues a long tradition of Maryland making innovative strides to make health care more affordable and accessible. Already, other states are following our lead by moving to create similar boards. These state actions are critically important in charting a path to make lifesaving drugs more affordable. As we have said throughout this campaign, drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them.”
Last modified: May 3, 2022
