Maryland’s Lawmakers Approve Drug Price Control Board

Maryland legislators have passed a bill that would create the nation’s first-ever drug price control board.

If signed by Governor Larry Hogan, it would create a board to monitor and cap drug prices under state and county employee health care plans.

It’s a scaled-down version of a similar act that gave plenary power to the board for all drug prices in Maryland. Nonetheless, consumer advocates see the bill as a victory. Vince DeMarco, president of the nonprofit lobbying group Maryland Citizens Health Initiative, said he and his allies will push for broader authority for the control board next year.

Under the bill (H.B. 768), the five-member board would issue annual reports on drug prices in the state and county employees’ health plans.