Minnesota’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board
We all pay the price for the high cost of drugs
Everyone deserves access to affordable medicine. But for years, pharmaceutical companies have hiked prescription drug costs and price-gouged life-saving medication, leaving the U.S. paying more for drugs than any other country, driving up insurance costs, and pricing a growing number of people out of the medicine they need.
To tackle this issue, Minnesota passed a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), which launched in 2024. The PDAB is an independent board of 7 voting members with authority to review, investigate, and set upper payment limits (UPLs) on high-cost prescription drugs sold in Minnesota, to make sure people can afford the medicine they need.
The PDAB was a top recommendation of the Attorney General’s Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Costs and has received strong support from patients, doctors, healthcare providers, faith communities, labor unions, farmers, small business owners, and community organizations.
Together, we can lower the cost of medicine we need to be healthy and well because we all pay the price when medicine is out of reach.
In April 2026, the Minnesota Department of Health identified ten drug families, including Eliquis, Jardiance, and Enbrel, as drugs of substantial public interest. Minnesotans spent $1.5 billion on more than one million claims for these drugs in 2024 alone, with patients paying $145 million of that directly out of pocket. Had the Medicare “Maximum Fair Prices” negotiated for these same drugs applied statewide, Minnesota could have saved over $1 billion in total health care spending, and patients could have kept nearly $100 million more in their pockets — gross figures that don’t yet net out manufacturer rebates, per MDH’s own analysis.
Other states are already showing what’s possible: Maryland’s PDAB has set payment limits on two high-cost drugs for state health plans, with statewide expansion, and tens of millions more in savings, on the horizon.
Frequently asked questions:
What is a prescription drug affordability board?
The PDAB is an independent board composed of experts in pharmaceutical or healthcare economics and finance. The 7-voting members of the Board have the authority to review, investigate, and set upper payment limits (UPLs) on high-cost drugs sold in Minnesota.
The goal of the Board is to identify the upper payment limit at which people who need the drug can afford to buy it, and the insurers, purchasers, and state programs can afford to provide the drug to everyone in the state who should get it.
Building on Minnesota’s prescription drug price transparency legislation, the Board will review available price information and leverage it to lower the cost to patients and other payers. Following in the footsteps of insulin advocates, the Board is designed to address the affordability of critical drugs for a variety of conditions.
Why do we need a PDAB in Minnesota?
Our government is responsible for making healthcare work for everyone. For years, Minnesotans have shared their stories about the high cost of prescription drugs from inhalers, EpiPens, and antibiotics to treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, autoimmune diseases, cancer treatment, and insulin. According to a report from the Healthcare Value Hub, nearly half of Minnesotans (45%) are worried about prescription drug costs and 1 in 5 Minnesotans has rationed medicine due to costs. We all pay the price for the high cost of drugs, whether it is at the pharmacy, in our health insurance costs, or in our public programs.
Physicians have also spoken out in support of the PDAB, citing firsthand experience with patients who suffered avoidable complications because they couldn’t afford their medications.
What are the upper payments limits (upls)?
Upper payment limits (UPLs) are a common tool used in healthcare, similar to reimbursement rate setting. When the Board sets a UPL on a drug, that is the maximum amount that drug can be sold for in Minnesota. The UPL applies to wholesalers, insurance payers, hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics, as well as patients at the pharmacy. They apply across the entire supply chain (wholesalers, insurers, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies) so the cost of a high-priced drug can’t just get passed down to patients, employers, or taxpayers.
What prescription drugs might be reviewed?
Only those that pose an affordability challenge to patients or meet certain criteria, such as sudden cost hikes or new drugs entering the market above $60,000 per year can be reviewed by the PDAB. The Board is also required to consider drugs brought forward by Minnesotans themselves as part of its selection process. Since 2020, Minnesotans have testified on the high cost of inhalers, EpiPens, treatments for Multiple Sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases, GLP-1 medications, and more. Drugs being considered by other states include an HIV treatment costing $4,000/month and a Crohn’s disease treatment costing $25,000 for two months.
The Board is currently building its official list of drugs under consideration. You can track its progress through the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s PDAB page.
What backlash should Minnesotans expect from the pharmaceutical industry?
Since 2020, the pharmaceutical industry has spent millions lobbying against the PDAB, often blaming others for high drug costs, and has attempted carveouts for the most expensive drugs (orphan/rare disease drugs). Based on experience from other states implementing PDABs, Minnesotans should expect heavy lobbying, media campaigns, and fear-tactics against the Board which are meant to cause confusion and inaction. While the industry points fingers elsewhere, Minnesotans keep paying the price, at the pharmacy counter and in rising insurance costs.
When and where does the board meet?
The PDAB and Advisory Council meet regularly and have been active since 2024, working through governance, drug reviews, and public input processes. Meetings are open to the public and may be held virtually or in person. For the current meeting schedule and agendas, visit the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s PDAB page.
Where can I discuss a prescription drug cost affordability issue?
There will likely be opportunities for patients to share their experiences with the Board. If you or a loved one is having trouble affording a prescription drug, please reach out to ryan@takeactionminnesota.org to get connected.
Are you a medical provider concerned about PREScription drug affordability? Contact a COMMITTEE TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE organizer
Minnesotans for prescription drug affordability board
Paid for by Committee to Protect Health Care