PIPC recently sent a letter to Senator Bill Ferguson and Delegate Adrianne Jones urging Maryland's Legislative Policy Committee to reject the Prescription Drug Affordability Board's (PDAB) proposed Upper Payment Limit (UPL) plan.
The letter criticizes the PDAB for not focusing on the perspectives of patients and people with disabilities, as well as for failing to prioritize accessibility during the development of the UPL. For example, 38 organizations sent a letter to the Maryland PDAB suggesting changes to its draft UPL Plan. That letter was not immediately posted to the PDAB website, it was not listed among letters considered by the Board, nor was it discussed at the PDAB meeting during which the revised UPL Plan was approved to be sent to the Legislative Policy Committee.
"The Legislative Policy Committee should not approve a UPL Plan that does not protect against disability discrimination and adverse utilization management strategies by payers," wrote PIPC Chair Tony Coelho. "By pausing this process, the Legislative Policy Committee could take the time to understand the implications of the PDAB’s UPL Plan and engage with patients and people with disabilities on solutions that are meaningful for advancing affordable access to care and in compliance with disability rights laws."
"The Legislative Policy Committee should not approve a UPL Plan that does not protect against disability discrimination and adverse utilization management strategies by payers," wrote PIPC Chair Tony Coelho. "By pausing this process, the Legislative Policy Committee could take the time to understand the implications of the PDAB’s UPL Plan and engage with patients and people with disabilities on solutions that are meaningful for advancing affordable access to care and in compliance with disability rights laws."
| pipc_md_lpc_letter.pdf |
