By ANTONIO ANDERSON

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — State Rep. Jenn Hill held a town hall meeting Monday to discuss possible solutions for ever-increasing prescription drug costs.

The meeting, held at the Peter White Public Library, saw Hill discussing the establishment of a prescription drug affordability board.

“The PDAB’s function is to lower prescription drug costs that so many folks here struggle to afford. Skyrocketing prescription drug prices force folks to have to choose to ration their medication or make choices to afford their medication, buy food or pay their utility bills,” Hill said.

According to Hill, the PDAB would be comprised of a five-person board of health care experts and economists. The board would be advised by a 21-member stakeholder council, with all of the board’s meetings and decisions being public to ensure transparency.

“This is how it works, the independent public body meets and researches on the affordability of prescription drug prices and caps their cost at a certain level,” Hill said.

Hill was joined by Dr. Rob Davidson, a west Michigan emergency physician and executive director of Committee to Protect Health Care, as well as Audrey Gerard, a health care organizer for Michigan United.

Audience members asked questions regarding drug company research and advertising. Other discussions included the consideration of drug prices from neighboring states, as well as Canada.

Hill said that the board would thoroughly research and consider the drug prices in neighboring locations.

The proposed PDAB isn’t unique to Michigan, as other states including Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Washington have all implemented a similar process.

Anyone interested in viewing the town hall meeting can do so on Hill’s Facebook page. A petition supporting creation of the board can be found online at www.miaffordablerx.com.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net