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Virginia General Assembly Passes Affordable Medicine Act
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RICHMOND — The Virginia General Assembly today passed legislation that will give all Virginians the same discounts on drug prices now available to people on Medicare.
The Affordable Medicine Act passed the House of Delegates today by a 61-33 vote. The bill passed the Senate on February 6 by an overwhelmingly bipartisan 31-8 vote. The bills now go to the opposite chamber for passage before heading to Governor Abigail Spanberger's desk.
This is the third time the legislature has passed a bill to lower prescription drug costs for Virginia. Each of the previous bills was vetoed by former Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Senate Bill 271 and House Bill 483 would make the Medicare‑negotiated prices for 25 prescription drugs available to hundreds of thousands of Virginians who are not enrolled in Medicare. The legislation would also create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board empowered to review other high-cost medications and set upper payment limits on drugs that pose financial challenges for the Virginians who depend on them. The bill is sponsored by Delegate Karrie Delaney (D‑Centreville), and the Senate version is carried by Senator Creigh Deeds (D‑Charlottesville).
“A common concern we hear from people across Virginia is how difficult it is for them to afford the medications they rely on,” said Jim Dau, state director for AARP Virginia. “Over the past five years, advocates and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have worked to ease that burden by establishing a prescription drug affordability board. During that time, both public and legislative backing have strengthened as the seriousness of this challenge has become undeniable. AARP is profoundly thankful for the bipartisan champions who have stayed committed, and I encourage Governor Spanberger to heed the 84% of Virginians who support this policy and sign the bill when it reaches her desk.”
With about 1 million members in Virginia, AARP is the largest organization working on behalf of people age 50+ and their families in the Commonwealth. In recent years, AARP Virginia has successfully fought for Medicaid expansion, protections for older people against financial exploitation, nursing home staffing standards and empowering family caregivers.
To learn more about AARP Virginia, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aarpvirginia and follow @AARPVa on X at www.x.com/aarpva.
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the 125 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest-circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org, aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPLatino and @AARPadvocates on social media.
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