ICYMI: “A Tale of Two Governors” [Maryland Matters]

Prominent health care advocate praises Gov. Moore’s leadership on lowering drug costs, sharply criticizes former Republican Gov. Hogan

President of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition Vincent DeMarco penned an op-ed in Maryland Matters today commending Governor Wes Moore’s dedication to lowering drug prices. In stark contrast to Republican Larry Hogan, Governor Moore has taken action to lower health care costs and save Maryland taxpayers millions of dollars.

Key quotes:

• From the beginning of his tenure, Moore worked to empower Maryland’s first-in-the-nation Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB).  By contrast, Hogan undermined and hindered the PDAB’s work.

• We are very proud of the progress we are making in Maryland under Gov. Moore to make high-cost drugs more affordable. This is critical because drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them. We encourage other governors around the country to follow Governor Moore’s example.

See also: REMINDER: Republican Larry Hogan Sides with Big Drug Companies Getting Rich By Keeping Prices High

Read the full op-ed below:

Maryland Matters: A Tale of Two Governors

By Vincent DeMarco

April 9, 2025

When Gov. Wes Moore adds his expected signature to landmark prescription drug affordability legislation passed by the General Assembly, it will highlight how his values on this life-saving issue are in stark contrast to those of his predecessor, Larry Hogan.

From the beginning of his tenure, Moore worked to empower Maryland’s first-in-the-nation Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB).  By contrast, Hogan undermined and hindered the PDAB’s work.

In 2019, the Maryland General Assembly, led by Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel), now chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee, passed legislation creating the PDAB. Hogan neither signed nor vetoed it, letting it become law without his signature.

But the next year, when the General Assembly passed legislation to fund the PDAB, Hogan vetoed it. Although the General Assembly overrode this veto the following year, Hogan’s callous action delayed its work. Further, Hogan slow-walked key appointments to the PDAB and its Stakeholder Council, which also hurt the PDAB’s ability to operate.

Under the original 2019 law, the PDAB was supposed to set up a process for making high-cost drugs more affordable for the state government and local governments by the end of 2022; the General Assembly would then decide in 2023 whether to authorize the PDAB to help all Marylanders afford their drugs. But, because of Hogan’s roadblocks, the PDAB could not meet this timeline and, therefore, the General Assembly did not act to expand the board’s authority that year.

Then Moore came to the rescue. In his inaugural address, he said it was a priority to ensure all Marylanders have quality, affordable health care. He knows that this cannot be done without making high-cost prescription drugs more affordable.

Many Marylanders have trouble affording life-saving drugs, forced to choose between purchasing their medications or paying for other necessities of life. But additionally, high drug costs affect all of us, as we are forced to pay higher health insurance premiums. The large drug corporations argue they need to charge these outrageous prices, which are much higher than anywhere else in the world, to fund research. But the truth is that big Pharma spends far more on advertising and profits than on research.

In 2023, working with the General Assembly, Moore allocated a critical $1 million for the PDAB, which helped jump-start its work after Hogan’s veto had stalled it. The governor knew the state would recoup that money many times over from saving money on high-cost drugs. The governor and General Assembly also passed new legislation confirming the PDAB’s authority to help state and local governments afford their drugs.

This board’s hard work and support from Gov. Moore are starting to pay off. Under the leadership of Chair Van Mitchell and Executive Director Andrew York, the PDAB is poised this year to make high-cost drugs more affordable for the state government and local governments, saving Maryland taxpayers millions of dollars.

Based on this, and with the support of the Moore administration, the General Assembly, led by Dels. Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery) and Jennifer White Holland (D-Baltimore County) and Sens. Dawn Gile (D-Anne Arundel) and Brian Feldman (D-Montgomery), just passed legislation expanding the authority of the PDAB so it can help all Marylanders afford their high-cost drugs. The governor has pledged to sign this measure into law.

Wes Moore is not the only governor with the courage to stand up to the drug corporations. Following Maryland’s lead, Govs. Jared Polis of Colorado, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Jay Inslee of Washington signed strong PDAB laws in their states.  Unfortunately, one governor, Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, outdid Larry Hogan by actually vetoing a PDAB bill.

We are very proud of the progress we are making in Maryland under Gov. Moore to make high-cost drugs more affordable. This is critical because drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them. We encourage other governors around the country to follow Governor Moore’s example.

Vincent DeMarco is president of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition.