RAAP Praises Governor Spanberger’s PDAB Co-Pay Cap Bill Action

Virginia Governor Amends PDAB Legislation, Praised by Rare Access Action Project

The Rare Access Action Project (RAAP) has today expressed its support for Virginia Governor Spanberger’s decision to make changes to the legislation that sets up the Prescription Drug Advisory Board (PDAB). These alterations ensure that potentially contentious provisions will be evaluated further and require future legislative approval before coming into effect.

What are the Changes to the Bill?

The amendments made by Governor Spanberger to SB 271 include a reenactment clause on the bill’s upper payment limit (UPL) authority, which is linked to Maximum Fair Price (MFP). MFP was established by the Inflation Reduction Act for the Medicare program. This change mandates that the policy be revised throughout 2026 and that the results be reported to the General Assembly by December 2026. The legislature will then have to vote once more during the 2027 session to reapprove these specific provisions before they can be put into practice.

What does this Mean for Patients?

Michael Eging, Executive Director of the Rare Access Action Project, has hailed this day as a significant victory for patients in Virginia. “The Governor’s action ensures that the MFP-based UPL policy will receive the careful, transparent review it deserves, and requires the General Assembly to examine the study and reconsider these provisions in 2027,” he stated.

RAAP has previously voiced concerns that implementing mechanisms such as UPLs, particularly those tied to MFP benchmarks, could inadvertently limit access to specialized therapies created for smaller patient groups. Why Medicare’s Maximum Fair Price Is Not a Model for State Drug Pricing – Rare Access Action Project

In addition to thanking the RAAP community for sharing their experiences with legislators and the Governor, RAAP also expressed gratitude to Governor Spanberger for standing up for patients with rare diseases.

Another Milestone for Rare Disease Patients

RAAP also saw the signing of a capped copay bill (HB 625 and SB 161) into law as another important accomplishment. This marks a series of major victories for patients living with rare diseases in Virginia. The bipartisan leadership’s efforts to address affordability and out of pocket costs during this session have played a critical role in this legislation’s passage.

“The capped copay legislation is another significant victory. Patients in Virginia— especially those with rare diseases—will have greater certainty and reliability when it comes to their out-of-pocket costs. The bipartisan leadership in the General Assembly took a major step forward for patient affordability. We are deeply grateful to Blood Cancer United and the unwavering efforts of patients who helped get this across the finish line,” Eging concluded.

RAAP, the Rare Access Action Project, is a coalition of patient and life sciences stakeholders that explore creative policy solutions to address structural issues in access and coverage. Our priority is to help ensure rare disease patients have access to the care and treatments they need.

SOURCE Rare Access Action Project (RAAP)