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.
Maryland state lawmakers have released details on the agreed upon 2025-26 budget—the contents of which are a mixed bag in the fight against cancer. While the state made sound investments in cancer research and protected Medicaid recipients’ ability to access biomarker testing, it missed an opportunity to save the lives and lungs of Maryland’s youth by cutting funding for the state’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
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.
Following the House Economic Matters Committee hearing on Monday and ahead of the Senate Finance Committee meeting on Friday, Lance Kilpatrick, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Maryland, released the following statement:
The following is a statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Maryland Government Relations Director Lance Kilpatrick:
“In 2024, Maryland state lawmakers heard from advocates across the disease spectrum and from every corner of the state, who united together to send a resounding message: improve access to lifesaving medication. Though the legislature did not advance the proposal to prohibit the use of copay accumulator adjustment programs, advocates are hopeful that lawmakers won’t miss the same opportunity in 2025.
A recent poll by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shows 8 in 10 (85%) Maryland voters view a candidate’s position on access to affordable, comprehensive health coverage as a vote-determining factor.
SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) called on U.S.
Today, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids issued the following statement:
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) called on U.S. Senate candidates in Maryland to clearly state their commitments to fighting cancer, and one of the candidates, Congressman David Trone, sat down with cancer survivors earlier today to discuss policies that alleviate the burden of cancer, a disease that continues to kill more than 1,600 Americans every day. The effort is part of ACS CAN’s national Cancer Votes program – the country’s leading voter education program for cancer-related issues and policies.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – February 27, 2024 – Tomorrow, the Maryland Senate Finance Committee will consider Senate Bill 595, which seeks to create more predictability for patients facing high out-of-pocket expenses for lifesaving medication. The following day, February 29, the House Health