Casey O'Neill
Sr. Regional Media Advocacy Manager
Cancer Survivors to Maryland Lawmakers: ‘Make All Copays Count,’ Protect against Threats to Patient Access to Lifesaving Medication
Local breast cancer survivor who struggles with medication access calls on lawmakers to put patients first & address prescription drug affordability
March 18, 2025
Last week, the Senate and House voted to advance Senate Bill 773 and House Bill 1246, legislation which seeks to create more stability for patients by curbing an unfair insurance practice that makes critical medication more expensive and access unpredictable. The passage of each bill in their respective chambers, which now await concurrence voting, came on the heels of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) annual Cancer Action Day when cancer survivors, patient advocates and medical professionals traveled to Annapolis to discuss the importance of this legislation in ensuring access to lifesaving prescription drugs. Advocates are hopeful that lawmakers see the bills’ momentum as a call to action to take the final steps to pass and enact the necessary reforms.
Current practices in Maryland make it so that a patient who receives copay assistance to fill a prescription for a lifesaving medication may incur hefty, unexpected medical bills—a result of insurers not applying copayments to a patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. A majority of insurance carriers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Maryland implement this tactic, known as “copay accumulator adjustment programs,” which, in effect, divert funds meant to help patients meet their prescription costs. Advocates with ACS CAN are looking to end this practice by insurers and PBMs in Maryland.
Among the survivors advocating for this legislation is Dozetta Lewis, a Baltimore local who navigated increasingly expensive copayments during her treatment for breast cancer and so understands how important it is to ensure patient accessibility to lifesaving medication and predictability around their payments.
“Countless cancer patients throughout Maryland are currently under the impression that the offer of financial support to help with soaring prescription drug costs will relieve their family of the crushing economic burden of disease. Imagine their surprise when they are told that they have to fork out more money for a bill that they thought has already been paid—because their financial assistance did not put a dent in their out-of-pocket obligation,” said Lewis. “How have we allowed patients to be misled and unable to benefit from the support they’ve been promised? We owe it to patients to end this unfair practice and make all copay counts toward their deductible.”
Senate Bill 773 and House Bill 1246 would clarify that all payments made by the patient or on behalf of the patient by a third-party program count toward the patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, creating more predictability around medication expenses. Twenty-one other states have enacted similar protections for patients.
“It’s far from humane to—without warning—create a financial hurdle for sick patients to mount amid their ongoing treatment,” said Lance Kilpatrick, ACS CAN Maryland Government Relations Director. “ACS CAN and our advocates are hopeful that lawmakers find common ground on Senate Bill 773 and House Bill 1246 and see the proposals for what they are: a bipartisan opportunity to do right by patients, ensuring that they can access their critical medications without incurring exorbitant and unpredictable out-of-pocket costs.”
In 2025, approximately 37,200 Marylanders will be diagnosed with cancer and 10,780 are expected to die from the disease. ACS CAN and its volunteer advocates are hopeful that Maryland lawmakers will serve as partners in the effort to reduce the burden of disease for many thousands across the state.
To learn more about how ACS CAN advocates for cancer patients and survivors at the local, state and federal levels or to learn more about how to get involved in our advocacy efforts, visit fightcancer.org/maryland.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN empowers volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to influence evidence-based public policy change that improves the lives of people with cancer and their families. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We’re more determined than ever to stand together with our volunteers to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.
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