UAEM North America Applauds Michigan Senate vote for Drug Affordability
October 4, 2023 - Kalamazoo, MI - Today the Michigan Senate passed the prescription drug affordability board legislation in a suite of three bills that would establish a prescription drug affordability board (PDAB), legislation endorsed by Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) North America.
Senate bills 483-485 would create a PDAB in Michigan, which would be an independent body that would research, review and establish upper payment limits (UPL) on the most expensive prescription drugs.
Six states have already successfully established a PDAB to set upper payment price limits on the most expensive prescription drugs and additional states are in the process of creating their own independent boards.
“We have all seen that too many people in Michigan have been unable to afford their medications, skipping doses or cutting pills in half to make them last longer,” said Justin Mendoza, Executive Director of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines North America. “I am so happy to see these Senators put people over greedy pharmaceutical corporations, and ensure prescription price gouging will come to an end in this state.”
In September, UAEM submitted written and oral testimony in support of the PDAB legislation before the Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee. UAEM's effort on this legislation comes after more than 20 years of advocacy to lower prescription costs worldwide through changes to the legal agreements between universities and pharmaceutical companies.
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