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Heated hearing on expanding Prescription Drug Affordability Board powers exposes sharp divide between patients, state agencies and industry
Summary
SB 357 would let Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board set statewide upper payment limits for high‑cost drugs after piloting limits for state and local purchases. Regulators, patients and labor unions urged passage; pharmaceutical and distribution groups warned UPLs could reduce access and urged caution.
Senate Bill 357 drew extended testimony Feb. 6 as supporters urged expanding the Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s (PDAB) authority to set statewide upper payment limits (UPLs) for high‑cost drugs, while industry groups and some patients warned of unintended consequences for access and innovation.
Sponsor Senator Dawn Veil told the committee the PDAB has built a regulatory process and initial state‑and‑local work the board should be allowed to scale statewide. “Drugs don't work if people can't afford them,” patient witness Erica Miller said, describing how prescription affordability affected her ability to stay in a job; other patients described skipping or delaying medications because of cost.
Dr. Andrew York, PDAB executive director, told…
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