Congratulations to YP-CDN Baltimore for helping Maryland become the first U.S. state to pass a bill prohibiting drug price hikes

April 10 was a historic day in the fight for drug price transparency and affordability in the U.S.! With the House voting 137-2 and the Senate 38-7, Maryland passed a first-of-the-nation bill (HB 631/SB 415) that bans pharmas' price-gouging on generic and off-patent drugs. The bill achieves this by allowing the state attorney to sue drug makes that sharply raise prices. 
We're proud to say YP-CDN Baltimore Chapter was directly involved in community organizing and advocacy efforts that contributed to this historic feat! Activities included growing the statewide coalition, calling legislators and key constituents, creating infographics and fact-sheets to explain key concepts to legislators, meeting with legislators and legislative staff in Annapolis, and testifying at hearings and work-groups.

Congratulations and thank you, YP-CDN Baltimore, for your work toward this feat!

Read more coverage around the web:
Reuters / Huffington Post / Washington's Top News / Baltimore Sun

As a future physician, I will be unable to fulfill my Hippocratic duty if patients can’t afford the drugs I prescribe to heal them.

YP-Baltimore celebrated Advocacy Day!

On Thursday Feb. 2, 2017, members of YP-Baltimore participated in Advocacy Day hosted by the Maryland American Heart Association in Annapolis, MD. We met with our Senators and Delegates and advocated for the Prescription Drug Affordability Initiative. For some of us, this was our first time in Annapolis, and we experienced what it's like to converse with legislators who make important policy decisions on behalf of all Marylanders. 

Although residents have the right to meet with legislators to share their experiences and to communicate their feelings on important issues, only a select percentage are able to do so every year. So, we were glad to have this precious opportunity to speak face-to-face with legislators.

We came out of this event not only enriched in our understanding of important contexts surrounding issues currently on the policy table but also motivated to continue the advocacy efforts as campaigns heat up!

On January 24, YP-Baltimore chapter leaders Hussain and Minzhi attended a briefing in Annapolis, MD, which was called by the Senate Finance Committee to discuss more about the pricing of prescription drugs.

Key stakeholders were present, including leaders from Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures Association of America (PhRMA), CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (leader of 12 pharmaceutical benefit managers), research professors from Johns Hopkins, Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, and the Special Assistant from the Office of the Attorney General.  There were four panels with two to four experts. Each expert made a brief presentation related to their perspective on prescription drug pricing and raised discussion on key challenges and recommendations.