Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an independent prescription drug affordability board to review review prescription drug costs.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Board comprising of 5 members appoint by the Governor with the consent of the Senate including (Sec. 3):

• Individuals with expertise in health care economics, health policy, health equity, and clinical medicine;

• Individuals who does not have any financial or personal interests in the matters related to the board; and

• Individuals who are not registered lobbyists.

• Prohibits members of the board from registering as lobbyists (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the governor shall not appoint an individual to the board if the individual is employed by, a consultant to or a board member of a manufacturer or a trade association for a manufacturer or has any other personal and financial interest or any form of bias in matters related to the board or in conducting the boards activities (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the governor shall not appoint an individual to the board if the individual is a lobbyist registered with the state (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits individuals from registering as a lobbyist in this state for a period of 5 years after the individuals term on the board expires (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the Governor to remove a member for incompetence or any other reasonable cause (Sec. 3).

• Establishes a 21 member prescription drug affordability stakeholder council (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that members of the council are not entitled to compensation for council service but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in serving (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that if the board finds that spending on a prescription drug under this section has led to or will lead to affordability challenges the board may establish an upper pay limit on the prescription drug (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text