Maryland Coalition Highlights Prescription Drug Affordability

MARYLAND — The Maryland Health Care for All Coalition met with Worcester County commissioners to discuss ways to make health care more affordable, saying the effort begins with lowering prescription drug costs.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, state and local governments could save millions of dollars on medications such as Ozempic and Jardiance through Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board.  Coalition President Vincent DeMarco said he hopes the board will eventually expand upper payment limits to additional high-cost prescription drugs.

“High-cost drugs are really a problem because drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them,” DeMarco said. “In other countries, when drug corporations propose a really outrageous price, those countries say, ‘We’re only going to pay you a reasonable amount.'”

DeMarco said the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board serves as a buffer to help lower drug prices and improve access to affordable health care.

He pointed to Howard County Public Schools as an example of how rising prescription costs have affected insurance coverage. “Some local jurisdictions, like the Howard County School System, have stopped allowing people to use Ozempic for weight loss and have it covered by their plans because it’s so expensive,” DeMarco said. “We’re hoping now they’ll be able to cover those drugs.”

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Wicomico and Worcester County governments will be eligible to participate in the program.

“Wicomico and Worcester County governments can participate as of Jan. 1, 2027, and save a lot of money on Jardiance and Ozempic,” DeMarco said. “The estimates are that under Jardiance, state and local governments will save more than $320,000 a year. On Ozempic, they’ll save more than $5.8 million a year. That’s a lot of money from just these two drugs.”

The coalition also hopes to expand the program to include other high-cost prescription medications. DeMarco encouraged Marylanders struggling to afford their prescriptions to share their experiences with the board.

“If people have a high-cost drug that is hurting them, let the board know which high-cost drugs are causing you problems, and hopefully the board can make those more affordable,” DeMarco said.

People interested in sharing information about high-cost prescription drugs can email the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition at access.pdb@maryland.gov