Latest news with #AngelaBreck
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Virginia's Prescription Drug Affordability Board proposal awaits Youngkin's action
(Photo by Angela Breck for Maryland Matters) As a bill representing a yearslong quest to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board awaits Gov. Glenn Youngkin's signature, veto or amendments in the coming days, opponents hope it will once again meet his veto pen while supporters hope he's had a change of heart. If enacted, the legislation would create an independent, nonpartisan board of medical and health experts tasked with analyzing data to set payment limits on drug prices within state-sponsored health plans. Youngkin previously described the proposal as 'noble in its intent' but warned it could 'limit access to treatments and hinder medical innovation' when he rejected last year's proposal. Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, countered that pharmaceutical companies could fund innovation without raising drug prices by trimming costs in areas like advertising or executive salaries. 'I think all one needs to do is look at the budget for these companies,' she said in a press conference earlier this year. 'If a big pharma company needed to cut its budget, I think they could find other sources to do that.' She has carried the bill before and is part of a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers that have pleaded its case in the legislature. 'I think it's time for us to try something new, and I've been really happy to support this,' said Del. Ellen Campbell, R-Rockbridge, a key co-patron of the bill. But the proposal has faced opposition from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The prominent trade group has lobbied against the bill and expressed skepticism about its potential effectiveness if such a board were established. Charise Richard, a senior director of state policy at PhRMA, stressed that PDABs are relatively untested, despite their surge in recent years. While at least 11 states have implemented the boards, Maryland was the nation's first. Created in 2019, opponents have pointed to how it was slow to be set up and has not yet yielded the amount of cost-savings at the core of its mission. Last fall, the board approved a process to set an upper limit payment to cap drug costs on state health plans. And an effort this year to expand the board resulted in heated debate in Maryland's legislature. PhRMA also highlights that patients with rare diseases, who rely on specialty drugs that can come with higher price tags than more common drugs, have expressed concerns about PDABs' potential to hinder, not help, them. While in opposition to PDABs, the organization is supportive of other proposals aimed at reducing skyrocketing prescription costs. Richard noted a recent Federal Trade Commission report showing how Pharmacy Benefit Managers are up-charging cancer, HIV and other specialty drugs as evidence that PBM reform is needed. PBMs act as intermediaries between health plans, drug manufacturers and pharmacies, but their lack of transparency has raised concerns. PBMs retain rebates and discounts from contracts, leaving consumers and pharmacies unsure how much savings are being passed on. This opacity has taken a toll on local pharmacies, which often receive reimbursement rates lower than the cost of medications. 'It's been a long time coming that PBMs need to be held accountable,' Richard said. A bipartisan effort for Virginia to have a single state-monitored PBM also cleared the legislature this session and is likewise awaiting action from the governor. Local and chain pharmacists flocked to the Capitol from around Virginia in recent months to speak in support of that bill. Richard called the bill a 'small but mighty step' towards PBM reform and said that her organization has also pressed for PBM's compensation to be 'de-linked' from the list price of medicines. March 24 is the deadline for Youngkin to take action on hundreds of bills that were sent to him this year. Though the PDAB proposal could garner another veto from him, it remains unseen how the PBM bill will fare. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Poll: Majority of Marylanders say they have considered exiting the state
A majority of Marylanders told a UMBC pollster they have considered moving out of the state. One reason found by the poll is that many consider the state a difficult place in which to open or operate a business. (File photo by Angela Breck/Maryland Matters) A majority of Marylanders said they have considered moving from the state in the near future even though they believe it is a good place to raise children, according to a poll released Thursday. Many of those participating in the survey by the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, expressed concerns with the state's business climate, job market and friendliness toward retirees. The poll highlights a potential problem as Gov. Wes Moore (D) attempts to focus on growing the state's economy. 'For a majority of Marylanders, the state is a great place to live and raise a family,' said Mileah Kromer, a pollster and director of the Institute of Politics. There are also concerns. The latest UMBC Poll surveyed 803 Maryland adults, including 769 who said they were registered voters, from Feb. 11-15. It has an overall margin of error of 3.5%. The margin of error among registered voters is also 3.5%. Part one of the poll was released on Tuesday with a second part released Wednesday. CONTACT US Many who responded rated Maryland favorably on questions about family, health care and education. A majority of respondents — 56% — said Maryland is a good or excellent place to raise a family. Another 27% said it was a fair place to raise a family and 16% rated the state as poor. Maryland is also a good place to access health care, with 54% rating the state as excellent or good. Just 15% rated the state as poor when it comes to accessing health care. Marylanders were more evenly split on the state's education system with 50% rating access to a quality education as excellent or good. Forty-eight percent said it was fair or poor. Those surveyed were asked if they had considered moving from Maryland within the next few years to a different state. Fifty-three percent said they had at least considered it, while 2% considered moving out of the country or some other option. Another 44% said they had not considered moving. Nearly seven independents in 10 and 63% of Republicans said they considered migrating to another state. For Democrats, the number that had considered calling a mover fell to nearly four in 10. The poll sheds some light on potential reasons, including lack of 'good paying jobs,' business climate and being a good place to retire. Moore frequently touts the state's low unemployment rate — 3.1% according to the most recent data for December. Even so, respondents were mixed when asked how Maryland is to find a good-paying job with 33% rating the state as fair and 35% calling it good. Another 17% rated Maryland as poor, while 11% said excellent. Perceptions of the state's business climate was also a mixed bag. Slightly more than one-third of those asked said the state was a good or excellent place to open or run a business. Another 35% said it was a fair place for businesses and 19% gave a poor rating. Moore — as with his predecessor — has called for efforts to make the state more business-friendly, proposing regulatory, procurement and permitting reform.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
16 and ready to vote: A case for lowering the voting age in Maryland
Signs direct voters to a polling place at Sacred Heart Church in La Plata. (File photo by Angela Breck/Maryland Matters) In April 2024, the St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners grappled with a consequential decision: Whether to increase taxes to adequately fund schools or decrease taxes at the potential expense of educational quality, teachers' salaries, and specialized programs. This debate divided community members, with one critical group notably absent from the conversation—students. Although the outcomes would directly impact them, students had no vote, no representation, and little say in a matter pivotal to their futures. This situation highlights a glaring democratic gap: 16- and 17-year-olds are largely affected by decisions that shape their education, communities and futures, yet they remain disenfranchised. Maryland can and should address this inequity by lowering the voting age in local elections, starting a new chapter of democratic inclusion and civic engagement. As demonstrated by Takoma Park and others, Maryland's legal framework already lets cities regulate local elections. Under this policy, extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in local elections is very simple and amplifies youth voices in critical issues such as education funding, environmental sustainability and public safety. Policymakers in Maryland have already spearheaded this effort, advocating to lower the voting age to 16 statewide. For example, the Your School, Your Voice Act, introduced by Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery), gives counties the authority to lower the voting age to 16 in Board of Education elections. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. 'Legislators consider hundreds of pieces of legislation that directly impact young people — issues like how to fund their schools adequately, secure safe communities that don't lead to their over-incarceration, and more should center their voices and experiences. The ability to vote in some of our elections will ensure their input is truly considered.' – Joanne Antoine, executive director of Common Cause Maryland. Maryland is no stranger to innovation in local governance. In the past 13 years, eight Maryland cities, including Takoma Park, have extended voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds. Takoma Park's experience provides compelling evidence of success: In the first election after the change, turnout among 16- and 17-year-olds exceeded that of any other age group. Since then, similar initiatives in California, New Jersey, Vermont, and even 22 countries including Austria and Argentina have demonstrated that engaging younger voters strengthens democracy. Critics argue that teenagers lack the maturity to make informed voting decisions. However, research by Temple University and others counters this assumption. Studies find that 16-year-olds possess the same cognitive ability for 'cold reasoning' — logical, deliberate decision-making — as adults. Moreover, adolescents at this age are more likely to be embedded in stable social environments, often surrounded by peers and family members who model civic participation, fostering the development of lasting voting habits. Another misconception is that teens merely mimic their parents' choices. Evidence from Scotland's independence referendum shows that 40% of young voters had different preferences than their parents, proving that young people are independent thinkers capable of nuanced decision-making. Generation Z, often lauded for its activism and leadership, has already demonstrated its readiness to contribute meaningfully to civic life. From organizing climate strikes to advocating for gun-violence prevention, today's young people are profoundly shaping public discourse. Their engagement underscores the urgent need to grant them formal representation in the electoral process. Opposition to lowering the voting age often hinges on a perceived link between voting and legal adulthood. Yet this argument overlooks the fact that 16-year-olds already participate in society in meaningful ways: They work, pay taxes and drive. It is only fair that they have a voice in the policies that affect their daily lives and futures. Public opinion also supports this shift. Research from the University of Maryland's Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement reveals that Americans are increasingly open to lowering the voting age. Federal lawmakers, including Democratic Reps. Grace Meng of New York and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and former Texas Republican Rep. Michael Burgess have championed this cause, citing the unique perspectives and passion that young people bring to our democracy. Maryland can lead the nation by expanding democratic participation to younger residents. Organizations like Vote16USA, Vote16MD, Common Cause and others have laid the groundwork, advocating tirelessly for this change and empowering student leaders to take center stage. The time to act is now. Maryland can build a brighter future by ensuring all its citizens — regardless of age — have a voice in shaping it. By granting 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote, we affirm their stake in our shared future and strengthen our democracy for generations to come.
