Acting Health Commissioner, Dr. Dzirasa, Issues Statement on Maryland Senate Bill 759 to Establish Prescription Drug Affordability Board

BALTIMORE, MD (March 14, 2019) – Acting Baltimore City Health Commissioner, Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, issued the following statement regarding Maryland Senate Bill 759 that seeks to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board:

"The Baltimore City Health Department supports Maryland Senate Bill 759, which will address the increasing prices of prescription drugs, with the goal of making them more affordable for Baltimore residents.

The proposed Prescription Drug Affordability Board will tackle this issue by increasing transparency around drug pricing. Many consumers are unaware of the true costs of their medications, simply because their health insurance programs only inform them of their co-pay costs.

No one should have to go without the medications prescribed to them by their doctor. But the sky-high costs of many prescription drugs make it impossible for many of our most vulnerable residents to afford them.

Making prescription medications more affordable is important for all of Baltimore’s residents. Parents who are caring for a sick child may be forced to choose between either purchasing inhalers or groceries. Older adults may opt to skip taking their blood pressure medications so they can afford to pay their rent.

Simply stated, this bill would expand access to life-saving drugs for some of our most vulnerable populations and we are strongly in support of it passing.”