As more states look to contain the cost of prescription drugs, Virginia lawmakers are pushing an affordability board that they believe will go further than similar efforts attempted by other states.
At the heart of the approach is a plan to use Medicare as a benchmark. Rather than start from scratch to identify medicines that are considered expensive, each year the board would target the same drugs that have been chosen by Medicare for price negotiations. The board would also set upper payment limits to create a ceiling on what would be paid.
By doing so, Virginia would leapfrog plans by other states that are at varying stages of establishing their own prescription drug affordability boards. Of the other nine states that have boards, none is eyeing all of the same drugs chosen annually by Medicare and only four have the authority to set upper payment limits.Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…