Howard Residents Voice Concern Over Rising Costs at First Forum for Prescription Drug Affordability Board

Howard County hosted a forum Monday afternoon to get community input on the rising cost of prescription drugs. It was the first in a series of listening forums planned across Maryland to bring personal stories to the state Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board Act was signed into law last May, creating a five-person board to look into what can be done at the local and state level to reduce drug costs.... U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, a Baltimore County Democrat who was also in attendance Monday, said he hoped government would turn the stories from the forum into advocacy and called for a bipartisan response to the issue. "People feel so powerless in the face of big industries out there, particularly the pharmaceutical industry," he said.