Prescription Drug Costs

Background

In New Hampshire and across the country, the rising costs of prescription drugs are threatening the health and financial well-being of individuals and families. Year after year, rising prescription drug costs are contributing to higher insurance premiums and cost-sharing, leaving Granite Staters unable to afford their prescriptions.  This forces many patients to ration their medications or skip them entirely. 

To help address this crisis, New Hampshire’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) was launched in 2020 to help set spending targets and develop strategies to limit rising drug costs in New Hampshire.  In the years since the Board has worked to put rules and structures in place, and with support from the state, members are primed to take steps in the months to come to better address rising drug costs and increase access to these life-saving medications. 

Current Legislation

A 2023 House bill (HB 130) proposes to eliminate the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. A second bill, HB 172, would suspend the Board for more than a year while the State looks into potential redundancies in its work. 

Our Position 

New Futures strongly opposes HB 130 because it would undermine the progress the Granite State has made to address rising prescription drug prices, and would place these life-saving medications further out of reach for Granite Staters who need them.

Similarly, New Futures opposes HB 172 because it would halt the Board’s important work and leave patients and families to struggle with high drug prices while the State conducts its research.  Both bills would negatively impact the health and financial well-being of our state and its residents.

Current Status 

Both bills were retained in committee, meaning the Health and Human Services can continue to work on the bill over the summer and could bring the bill to the House for a vote in 2024. No changes will be made to the Prescription Drug Affordability Board in the interim.