Bill > HB424

This bill modifies Maryland's Prescription Drug Affordability Board and Stakeholder Council, expanding their membership and authority to address prescription drug costs. The bill significantly increases the Stakeholder Council membership from 26 to a more diverse group of representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, Senate President, and Governor, including representatives from various healthcare sectors, patient advocacy groups, and rare disease communities. The Board is now authorized to establish a process for setting upper payment limits on prescription drugs that could create affordability challenges, with new requirements for reporting the impacts of these limits. The bill allows the Board to reconsider upper payment limits for drugs in shortage and requires detailed reporting on the effects of these limits, including impacts on patient out-of-pocket costs, insurance premiums, pharmacy reimbursement, patient access, and the biotechnology industry. The legislation also requires consultation with the Maryland Medical Assistance Program before setting limits that would affect Medicaid, and includes contingencies for implementing broader upper payment limit authority based on the success of initial drug price control efforts.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0424?ys=2025RS