Maryland Health Care For All Urges Candidates to Cap High-Cost Drug Prices

The Maryland Health Care for All Coalition is asking political candidates to support setting upper payment limits on high-cost prescription drugs, aiming to curb soaring medical expenditures across the state.

During recent discussions with local leadership, including a meeting with Worcester County commissioners, coalition representatives emphasized that tackling healthcare affordability must begin at the pharmacy counter. Coalition President Vincent DeMarco highlighted the severe financial strain that brand-name therapies place on public entities, pointing specifically to treatments like Ozempic and Jardiance as major drivers of rising expenditures.

According to coalition projections shared during the recent advocacy push, state and local governments are positioned to save millions of dollars beginning Jan. 1, 2027, through Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Estimates indicate that participation in the program could yield annual savings of more than $320,000 for Jardiance alone, while potential savings on Ozempic are projected to exceed $5.8 million annually for state and local jurisdictions.

The Financial Impact on Local Governments and Schools

The ripple effects of high prescription drug prices have already forced difficult decisions among public employers in Maryland. DeMarco pointed to the Howard County Public Schools system as a stark example, noting that rising expenses forced local officials to restrict insurance coverage for certain uses of high-demand medications, such as blocking coverage for Ozempic when prescribed for weight loss.

“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, adding that advocates hope upcoming state-backed price controls will restore broad coverage options for public employees.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, municipal and county governments such as Wicomico and Worcester counties will become eligible to participate in the affordability program.

“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.’”

Expanding the Affordability Program and Public Participation

Beyond immediate savings on diabetes and weight-management therapies, the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition is actively campaigning to broaden the scope of the state’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The overarching goal is to secure upper payment limits across a wider array of specialty medications that strain both public and private insurance markets.

Photo: wmdt.com

To build momentum for the legislative and administrative push, the coalition is calling on residents across the state to report personal struggles associated with expensive medical treatments. Officials encourage patients dealing with financial barriers to submit their experiences directly to the board.

Marylanders wishing to share information regarding burdensome medication expenses can contact the coalition directly by emailing [email protected].

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Readers seeking guidance on healthcare coverage or prescription assistance should consult qualified professionals or official state resources.

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