TL/DR –
Lawmakers and activists in Illinois are reviving a push to establish a prescription drug affordability board that could set maximum prices for specific prescription drugs, potentially saving the state millions on health plan spending. The measure is contained in House Bill 1443 and Senate Bill 66, which would establish a Health Care Availability and Access Board, however, the bills are facing resistance from pharmaceutical companies who argue that patient access could be compromised. The proposed board would review certain types of drugs, including expensive specialty drugs and those with sudden price hikes, and set a cap if a drug is deemed unaffordable.
Renewed Push for Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Illinois
A campaign for establishing a board to regulate prescription drug prices is resurrecting in Illinois as lawmakers and activists rally to get House Bill 1443 and Senate Bill 66 off the ground. This initiative, known as the prescription drug affordability board (PDAB), was first introduced in 2025 and aims to establish a Health Care Availability and Access Board authorized to set a maximum price for certain prescription medications.
A Closer Look at the Proposed Legislation
As proposed in House Bill 1443 and Senate Bill 66, the PDAB would assess the affordability of certain prescription drugs and could set a maximum price if a specific drug poses challenges in terms of affordability. The board would consider a range of factors including the manufacturing costs, market price, health plan spending, and other relevant data related to the drug. A maximum price, or upper payment limit (UPL), would be set only if the board deemed the drug unaffordable, with this price cap taking effect no sooner than six months after the announcement.
Anticipated Benefits of the PDAB
Advocates argue that implementing the PDAB could result in substantial savings for individuals and the state alike. According to a report by Citizen Action/Illinois, the state could save up to $192 million on health plan spending in the first year by adopting the first ten federally negotiated Medicare drug prices. Furthermore, the PDAB could help stabilize insurance premiums and reduce out-of-pocket pharmacy costs, yielding further savings.
Resistance Against the PDAB
However, the road to establishing the PDAB isn’t free of obstacles. The primary opposition to the initiative comes from the pharmaceutical industry, which believes such measures could potentially limit patient access to treatments. Tom Wilbur, a spokesman for PhRMA, a policy advocacy group representing pharmaceutical companies, argues that prescription drug boards could reduce patient access to critical treatments and may not always ensure savings for the patients.
Next Steps
Despite the opposition, supporters of the PDAB continue to campaign for its passage. Rallying for the initiative, Anusha Thotakura, Executive Director of Citizen Action/Illinois, stated, “Prescription drugs only work if people can actually afford them.” The bills associated with setting up the PDAB are still awaiting committee assignments, indicating that there is still a long way to go before they become law.
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