The EACH/PIC Coalition submitted a letter to the Senate Insurance Committee opposing passage of SB 401, which would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), and SB 369, which would limit drug payments to the Medicare Maximum Fair Price (MFP). The letter urged lawmakers to focus instead on patient-centered reforms, including PBM reforms.
The letter stated:
“The Ensuring Access through Collaborative Health (EACH) and Patient Inclusion Council (PIC) urges your committee to legislation in your committee that would set upper payment limits for selected drugs therapies, either through the creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (S.B. 401) or by defaulting to Medicare payment rates (S.B. 369).”
“EACH has been actively working with PDABs in multiple states and has seen firsthand the limitations of the PDAB model. Based on our experience, we believe PDABs are ineffective in identifying and solving the actual barriers patients face when attempting to access high-cost medications. Furthermore, PDABs cost states millions of dollars per year to operate and have yet to show any savings to the state or patients (resulting in the full repeal of the New Hampshire PDAB in 2025).”
“Contrary to the claims of PDAB supporters, setting a UPL for a drug does not directly lower patient OOP costs and have little impact on overall patient costs. In reality, UPLs can endanger patient accessibility and limit appropriate reimbursement for the physicians and pharmacists.”
“EACH/PIC shares in your goal of lowering drug costs for patients and applauds the legislature for being out-front on reforms that actually benefit patients, such as banning copay accumulator/diversion programs and reforming many anti-competitive pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices. We urge committee members to continue their focus on these non-UPL reforms and strongly support legislation sponsored by yourself and Vice Chair Bass (S.B. 387)that “delinks” PBM compensation from the price of the drug.”