The Maryland General Assembly passed Senate Bill 773 and House Bill 1246, finding common ground on the effort to make prescription drugs more affordable. The proposal now heads to Governor Wes Moore’s desk.
Senate Bill 773 and House Bill 1246 would require all prescription drug copayments made by patients, directly or on their behalf, to count toward their overall out-of-pocket maximum or deductible, making cancer treatment more affordable and saving more Marylanders from potential medical debt.
A 2022 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) study found 31% of cancer patients and providers noted paying for prescriptions as a challenge and 20% indicated that financial considerations had caused them to skip or delay taking prescribed medication.
ACS CAN Maryland Government Relations Director Lance Kilpatrick noted the toll this insurance practice has had on the cancer community—and the benefits that reform will bring.
“For so many patients, cancer represents one hardship after another. First, the hardships are physical. Then, very quickly, they are emotional. And all the while they are financial, the cost burden weighing heavily on patient and family alike. Fortunately, there are avenues for patients to lighten their financial load through copay assistance programs,” said Kilpatrick.
“Copay assistance programs provide a real lifeline, a source of hope in the face of relentless hardship. But too often this assistance isn’t being counted towards patients’ deductibles, essentially making patients provide a form of payment twice to meet it,” he continued. “The cancer community sincerely appreciates legislators recognizing the real, human cost for toxic policies such as this and voting to end it. Survivors, like Baltimore local Dozetta Lewis who’s had to forgo lifesaving medication as a result of this unfair insurance practice, are hoping Governor Wes Moore follows the lead of the General Assembly and signs the legislation into law.”
If Maryland enacts Senate Bill 773 and House Bill 1246, it will be the 22nd state to institute copay accumulator reform.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, 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 stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.