State lawmakers are considering two bills that would lower the cost of prescription drugs in Maine by requiring state agencies to pay the same or lower prices than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bills were submitted by Houlton Sen. Michael Carpenter, who said one of the bills, LD 655, An Act to Lower the Price MaineCare Pays for Prescription Drugs, requires the commissioner of Health and Human Services to negotiate the lowest price for all prescription drugs for programs under MaineCare, unless prohibited by federal law. The second bill, LD 652, An Act to Provide Drug Price Relief, would require state agencies to pay the same or lower price than the VA, which Carpenter said receives a discounted price on prescription drugs from drug manufacturers. Continue reading.
