* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Prescription Drug Affordability Initiative
For the purpose of supporting the goals of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative and calling on the State of Maryland to implement its 3 commonsense ideas to improve our citizens’ access to essential prescription drugs.
body
Recitals
Whereas, to protect our lives and our well-being, every family in Maryland requires access to affordable prescription drugs.
Whereas, skyrocketing costs are making some medicines virtually inaccessible to our families and neighbors.
Whereas, overall drug prices increased almost 9% in 2016 while general inflation increased just over 2% in the same period, and since 2013 drug prices have risen an average of 10% annually but inflation has only increased 1.2% on average since 2013.
Whereas, prescription drug spending accounted for over 22% of each health insurance premium dollar in 2014, and nearly a quarter of people in their deductible period never picked up their prescriptions from the pharmacy, presumably because of the cost.
Whereas, there are pharmacy benefit managers who reportedly ban pharmacists from discussing lower-priced drug choices with their patients.
Whereas, Maryland should continue to lead the Nation in addressing the affordability of prescription drugs, building on the State's landmark 2017 legislation banning price gouging by manufacturers of generic and off-patent drugs.
Whereas, a broad coalition of State and local activists are working to support the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative calling for:
• Allowing pharmacists to provide information to consumers about lower cost drug options;
• Requiring prescription drug corporations to provide notice of new, expensive drugs, or large price increases of older drugs, as well as public justification for those pricing decisions; and
• Making expensive drugs more affordable by creating a new Prescription Drug Cost Review Commission to establish payment rates for expensive drugs that create significant affordability problems for Marylanders, building upon Maryland’s successful tradition of health care cost scrutiny.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, that the Council supports the goals of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative and calls on the State of Maryland to implement its 3 commonsense ideas to improve our citizens’ access to essential prescription drugs.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City House and Senate Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the President of the Maryland Senate, the Maryland House Speaker, the Mayor, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.