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MaineLD 697132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

An Act to Direct the Maine Prescription Drug Affordability Board to Assess Strategies to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs and to Take Steps to Implement Reference-based Pricing

Sponsored By: Cameron D. Reny (Democratic)

Became Law

PRESCRIPTION DRUGSPRESCRIPTION DRUGS - AFFORDABILITY BOARD

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New staff to run drug board

The law funds one Public Service Manager III to support the board starting October 1, 2025. The state provides $107,817 for 2025‑26 and $149,118 for 2026‑27. The position handles strategy, stakeholder work, research, and administration.

Board studies reference pricing and savings

The board must study ways to lower prescription costs and remove cost barriers. It reviews spending data, seeks public input, and looks at setting upper payment limits and using reference‑based pricing. It reviews savings from applying reference pricing to the first 10 drugs negotiated under Medicare for the state employee health plan. It also weighs group buying, common formularies, PBM regulation, lowering out‑of‑pocket costs through insurance rules and rate review, engaging prescribers, and paying closer to actual acquisition costs. The board considers what has worked in other states.

Drug spending targets for public plans

The board sets yearly prescription drug spending targets for public payors, not including MaineCare. Targets start for the year 2021. The formula uses a 10‑year rolling average of the medical care services CPI, adds a reasonable inflation amount, and subtracts a pharmacy savings target set by the board. The board also sets targets for specific high‑cost drugs and flags payors likely to exceed them.

New drug affordability program plan

The board must design a prescription drug affordability program using spending data and its assessments. The plan must explain how to implement and enforce the program and list needed funding and authority. A preliminary plan is due in the annual report on January 30, 2026. A final plan is due by October 1, 2027, with any proposed bills for lawmakers.

Public payors must share drug data

Third‑party administrators and insurers for public plans must give the board drug spending data when asked, even if other laws say otherwise. Data include spending, use by plan, formularies and common drugs, pharmacy benefit manager and admin costs, and enrollee cost sharing. The board can use MHDO data and can ask MHDO to collect more. Data shared with the board stay confidential. MHDO data given to the board cannot be shared further.

New drug board members and pay

The law changes who serves on Maine’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board. It raises the board to six voting members with health policy, data, economics, or clinical expertise, and bars ties to drug makers or public payors. It requires alternates for the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker picks, and adds the MHDO executive director as a nonvoting member. The advisory council grows to 13 by adding a health insurer seat, with three‑year terms. Board and council members get legislative per diem and expense pay, except the MHDO ex officio member. The law also repeals an older subsection from the board statute.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Cameron D. Reny

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Anne-Marie Mastraccio

    Democratic • House

  • Denise Tepler

    Democratic • Senate

  • Donna Bailey

    Democratic • Senate

  • Henry L. Ingwersen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Joseph Rafferty

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kristi Mathieson

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 160 • No: 9

House vote • 6/2/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 125 • No: 9

Senate vote • 5/29/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 530

    5/1/2026

  2. HELD BY THE GOVERNOR.

    7/8/2025Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    6/25/2025Senate

  4. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/25/2025House

  5. The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-459) thereto.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/25/2025House

  6. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table On motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) was ADOPTED. On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "A" (S-459) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) READ and ADOPTED. Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-459) thereto ADOPTED. PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-459) thereto in NON-CONCURRENCE. Sent down for concurrence.

    6/25/2025Senate

  7. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence

    6/2/2025Senate

  8. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/2/2025House

  9. Reports READ.On motion of Representative MATHIESON of Kittery, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 249(Yeas 125 - Nays 9 - Absent 17 - Excused 0)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-159). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/2/2025House

  10. Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator BAILEY of York The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 269 Yeas 35 - Nays 0 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-159) Sent down for concurrence

    5/29/2025Senate

  11. Reports READ On motion by Senator BAILEY of York Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE OF EITHER REPORT. Unfinished Business

    5/28/2025Senate

  12. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025Senate

  13. Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 20, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2

    2/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

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