The EACH/PIC Coalition submitted comments to the Oregon PDAB in advance of their August meeting on the affordability review process for 2025. The letter noted the limitations of the board’s current affordability review process and urged reforms to ensure the reviews are conducted with the appropriate care and diligence.
The letter stated:
“We appreciate your continued efforts to strengthen Oregon’s drug affordability review process. However, we are concerned that the current affordability review process is moving too quickly and without a clear, patient-centered foundation.”
“The board is still finalizing its methodology for evaluating affordability, yet the review process is already halfway complete. During the last meeting, several members expressed uncertainty about how affordability is being assessed. This lack of clarity risks inconsistent determinations and undermines public trust in the process. Equally troubling is the limited time available for meaningful discussion of each drug under review.”
“The board should extend outreach, keep surveys open until robust participation is achieved, and expand beyond three-minute testimony to include patient roundtables or listening sessions for deeper insight. Only by starting with patient input can the board appropriately address patient needs.”
“Broadly, the process has become rushed and overly complicated. For these reviews to achieve their intended purpose, improving drug affordability for Oregonians, they must be deliberate, transparent, and based on clear, shared criteria. We urge the Board to slow down, revisit its process, and ensure that both its methodology and meeting structure support thorough, informed evaluation.”