Maryland Health Care for All!

11/21/2025

Prescription Drug Affordability Board Executive Director Andy York and our Vinny DeMarco presented on prescription drug affordability at the statewide meeting of the Rural Maryland Council in Annapolis.

11/20/2025

11/20/2025

Rep. is urging to extend subsidies to prevent a 35-50% premium hike for and potential loss of health coverage for millions of Americans. https://afro.com/affordable-care-act-premium-hike/

11/19/2025

Our Stephanie Klapper is proud to serve as co-chair of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Standing Advisory Committee, which serves a consultative role and functions as an advisory group to the MHBE’s Board of Trustees. The next meeting is November 20. Learn more at https://www.marylandhbe.com/standing-advisory-committee/

11/18/2025

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board on Monday added Trulicity and Ozempic to the list of prescription drugs that are likely unaffordable for Marylanders. It also moved to cap payments on the first two drugs on the list, Jardiance and Farxiga.

11/18/2025

Good news! This week Maryland's Prescription Drug Affordability Board took a step toward setting upper payment limits for Farxiga and Jardiance for state and local governments, two drugs used to treat Type II diabetes and other conditions. We are hopeful the Board will soon officially set those upper payment limits, which will start the clock ticking on when the Board can make high-cost drugs more affordable for ALL Marylanders.

The Board also determined that Trulicity and Ozempic are likely unaffordable for Marylanders.

Read more about it in Maryland Matters.

11/17/2025

As federal action on prescription drug costs remains limited, states across the country are stepping in with new laws to make medications more affordable

11/17/2025

Today, AFSCME Maryland Council 3 Legislative & Political Director, Denise Gilmore, testified before the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board on behalf of AFSCME members and public service workers across our state.

“Every day, our members, state and local employees work hard to keep Maryland running, and they deserve access to the medications they need without facing impossible financial choices.

The Board’s work to set upper payment limits on high-cost drugs like Jardiance and Farxiga is a critical step toward making prescription drugs more affordable for public employees and their families.

This isn’t just about policy - it’s about real people who are struggling to manage chronic conditions and keep up with rising costs.

I’m proud to stand with our union and our coalition partners in pushing for solutions that put Marylanders first. We’ll keep fighting to ensure that every worker, retiree and family in our state can get the care they need at a price they can afford.”

You can watch a recording of the live testimony here: https://buff.ly/XkaRnx6

11/17/2025

At the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board meeting today, community leaders advocated for the Board to set upper payment limits on high-cost drugs for state and local governments, and ultimately for ALL Marylanders. Drugs don't work if people can't afford them!

Thank you Larry Zarzecki II, Rev. Melody Hession of Delaware-Maryland Synod ELCA, Rev. Ken Phelps of Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network, Denise Gilmore of AFSCME Maryland, and Jim Gutman of AARP Maryland.

11/09/2025

“If the federal tax credits end, health care will become a major expense for me. My premiums will more than double, and I will be forced to downgrade my plan to something that will barely cover anything or give up health insurance entirely.”

In Maryland, 274,000 people purchased insurance through the Maryland Health Exchange this year, paying an average of $450 a year, with 2% to 6% increases in their premiums each of the last four yea…