Mass. governor signs bills capping drug costs and tightening hospital, PBM oversight

Governor Healy signed two health care bills at the State House that impose new limits on out‑of‑pocket prescription costs and expand state oversight of hospital ownership and pharmacy benefit managers.

The measures, enacted after months of negotiation and prompted in part by the collapse of a private‑equity hospital system, aim to lower patient costs for chronic medications, increase transparency around pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and drug pricing, and give state regulators broader authority to review changes in ownership and protect local access to care.

At the signing, Governor Healy credited legislative leaders and health advocates for delivering what she called “another chapter” in Massachusetts’ approach to health care. “This law is going to ensure affordable access to critical drugs ... limiting it to $25 per month for brand name drugs,” she said, describing the prescription drug provisions as “a big deal.” Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka…