In New Hampshire and across the country, the rising costs of prescription medications are threatening the health and financial well-being of individuals, older adults, and families. These rising costs contribute to higher insurance premiums and cost-sharing, leaving Granite Staters unable to afford their prescriptions. A recent survey revealed that one in four Granite Staters cut pills in half, skipped doses, or did not fill a prescription due to cost.1 In 2020, New Hampshire's Prescription Drug Affordability Board was created to develop strategies to limit rising prescription costs in our state.
HB 570, as amended, would eliminate the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, undermining our state’s strongest effort to address rising prescription prices and placing life-saving medications further out of reach for Granite Staters who need them.
About the Bill
A House committee adopted an amendment to HB 570 that would eliminate New Hampshire’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), which plays a critical role in addressing the rising costs of prescription medications in our state. The PDAB works to ensure that Granite Staters can afford the medications they need, which is important as our state faces a growing health care affordability crisis. Over half of our residents are worried about affording their prescription medications, and 89 percent support the PDAB as a strategy to help address this issue.1 Dismantling the PDAB would be a devastating step backward for our state — we must preserve this critical board that ensures life-saving medications remain within reach for all Granite Staters.
New Futures is working with the New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging to oppose this harmful amendment. Learn more about HB 570 in its original form here.
Learn More About the Prescription Drug Affordability Board
New Hampshire's Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is the only independent entity in our state dedicated to addressing the high costs of prescription medications. The PDAB works to ensure transparency and accountability in the prescription market, and find ways to make medications more affordable for our residents, employers, and taxpayers.
Since 2020, the PDAB has identified real savings—$6 million in one year alone—and is currently exploring additional tools, like a prescription drug discount card that could save New Hampshire residents an average of $212 per prescription.2
For Granite Staters, affordable health care is a top priority. Continuing the PDAB is a direct way to address these concerns and ensure costs don't get out of control. Alternatively, repealing the PDAB would increase costs for everyone. By removing oversight, it would leave pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturers free to drive up prices with no state-level accountability.
Take Action
Email your State Representative(s)
Share Your Story
Are you worried about affording the cost of your prescription medications? Have you ever rationed or skipped doses, or not filled a prescription due to the cost? Please share your experience with affording your prescription drugs using the form below.
Bill Status
The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee passed an amended version of HB 570, advancing it to the House floor for a House vote. Email your State Representative(s) to urge them to oppose the amendment to the bill!
January 29: House Executive Departments and Administration Committee Hearing
February 19: House Executive Departments and Administration Committee Recommends "Ought to Pass" on an amended
version of the bill that repeals the Prescription Drug Affordability Board
Next: House Vote
