Maryland Affordability Board announces State and local price cap

MARYLAND- The Maryland Affordability Board held a listening session at the MAC Center for Aging Wednesday, in conjunction with Maryland Healthcare for All and the Maryland AARP.

The session heard from local residents on their issues affording prescription drugs in the state, something the Affordability Board says they will soon be able to handle with greater authority.

Currently, the board is announcing a State and Local price gap, limiting payments for drugs purchased by the state and local health departments and insurance plans, limiting payments.

“Our scope for selecting drugs is meant to be very broad, so right now it’s we target the drugs that become eligible are drugs that are over $30,000 a year or have a price increase of $3,000 or more for brand name drugs for biosimilars, it’s drugs that are not less than 15% off the reference biologic,” said Maryland Drug Affordability Board Director Andrew York.

Under the 2019 legislation, the Board also has the authority to reduce all medications that could be seen as “creating an affordability crisis for households” which could see even more drugs being added to that list.

York says the proposed legislation would expand the board’s scope and go after all medications sold within the state, which is where they are calling on the public to comment on issues to help them identify problem prescriptions.

Those looking to document their struggle with affordability can visit Healthcareforall.com/rxinput.