LANSING — With the beginning of the new legislative session, bills that did not become law in the last session are either dead or need to be introduced once again. In the 2023-2024 sesssion, Senate Democrats sent a bill to the House that would lower the cost of prescription drugs by instituting a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) that would to establish an independent body of experts in health care economics, health policy, and clinical medicine that has the ability to set upper payment limits on prescriptions, so that patients can access their prescribed medications.
While the bill package passed the Senate on a party-line vote (20-17 with one abstention) the bill never received a hearing or a vote in the Michigan State House. Many advocates for the bill package placed blame on House member Julie Rogers who chaired the House Health committee. Reporting from the Detroit News showed that Rogers took money from Big Pharma while the bills were in her committee.
“Physicians are thrilled to see bills to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board reintroduced and prioritized so early in the 2025-2026 legislative session,” said Dr. Rob Davidson, Executive Director of the Committee and an ER physician in west Michigan. “We thank Senators Camilleri, Klinefelt, and Shink–and Senate Majority Leader Brinks–for their continued leadership on this critical issue and urge swift passage of these bills in both the Senate and the House. The rising cost of living, including health care, remains top of mind for Michigan residents. We hope that House Speaker Matt Hall will listen to voters, patients, and doctors and work to implement a PDAB without delay so that Michiganders can access the drugs they need to live and thrive.”
Senate Bill 3 introduced by Senator Darrin Camilleri, Senate Bill 4 introduced by Senator Veronica Klinefelt and Senate Bill 5 introduced by Senator Sue Shink represents the bill package known as PDAB. The bills have been referred to the Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee.
