By Steve Crane | Editor-in-chief |
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"It really is significant for the people of Maryland. State and local governments will be saving millions of dollars because they are being gouged by the drug corporations. We commend the board for doing the right thing and understanding how to make this happen. It’s not easy, but we are making significant progress." – Vincent DeMarco, president of Maryland Health Car for All, on the Prescription Drug Affordability Board's decision to limit what the state will pay for Ozempic.
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We have something old and something very new for you in today's headlines.
After years of work and study, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board set a price limit for what the state will pay for Ozempic, the second drug to be subjected to the cap, as Danielle J. Brown reports. Christine Condon has the story of the state's newest park, Freedman's State Park in Montgomery County, carved out of a larger park to honor the former slaves who built lives and community there. And William J. Ford reports on immigration advocates pressing the governor to sign immigrant-protection bills, as the deadline to sign this year's bills into law draws near.
Those headlines and more for you are below, along with more on our site, of course. Enjoy! |
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Members of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board approve a plan to limit how much state and local governments can spend on Ozempic. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters) |
State officials determined that Ozempic, a popular diabetes treatment and weight-loss drug, is unaffordable for Marylanders and voted Monday to limit how much state and local governments will pay for it on state health plans. Advocates say the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board's proposed “upper payment limit” on Ozempic, the name brand for semaglutide, could save state and local governments around $5.8 million a year on state health plans. The board’s decision comes a month after it voted to place an upper payment limit on another Type 2 diabetes drug, Jardiance, that could save the state around $320,000 a year.
The approvals follow years of delays for the board, and they're still not final: They are still subject to a public comment period, and if approved after that the savings won’t start until 2027 at the earliest. Health care advocates hailed the long-delayed approval. But some patient advocates and lobbyists for the pharmaceutical industry continue to insist that the board’s decision could actually reduce access to the drugs and are skeptical whether savings will result in lower out-of-pocket costs for consumers.
The approval of price limits would also be the first step toward expanding the authority of the board to health plans statewide, which could ultimately increase savings to $160 million a year or more. |
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The ruins of Locust Villa, which Maryland officials estimate was built in 1790, can be viewed at the new Freedman’s State Park in Montgomery County. It was once owned by the Howard family, a prominent Black family in the region. (Photo by Christine Condon/ Maryland Matters) |
For years, the old stone house beside a Montgomery County farm field was largely forgotten. It was swallowed by forest, marred by graffiti and crumbling to the earth. But now, partially restored and easily accessible, it is the centerpiece of Maryland’s newest state park.
The 1,042-acre Freedman’s State Park near Gaithersburg honors the legacy of the Howard family, who owned the land after emancipation from slavery, and became major contributors to Black communities in Maryland, including the founding of the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper.
“Freedman’s State Park will be a place for reflection, education and connection,” said Maryland Park Service Director Angela Crenshaw during a dedication ceremony Friday. “A place where visitors can understand the deep ties between land and liberty, a place where Marylanders can see how the work of freedom continues long after emancipation, and a place where the legacy of the Howard family is protected — not as a footnote, but as a chapter of statewide significance.”
The property, acquired by the state more than 60 years ago, had been part of Patuxent River State Park, where it was often used for hunting. Now, it stands alone with its own state park designation. But there’s still plenty of work to be done. |
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Advocates press for final immigration bills: Two dozen immigrant advocacy and civil rights groups are urging Gov. Wes Moore to sign two major immigrant protection bills that passed on the final day of the 2026 legislative session.
Potholes put holes in local budgets: Across the country, potholes are not just a seasonal nuisance, but a visible symptom of aging roads and bridges that many state and local governments say they cannot afford to fully maintain.
Sewage spill problems linger: Residents affected by the massive raw sewage spill into the Potomac River this year shared their concerns, including worries about safety of the water and soil, and an ongoing "putrid" smell in the Cabin John area. |
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MATTERS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED |
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Sheriffs back down, for now: Maryland sheriffs had vowed to fight a law banning formal agreements between local police agencies and ICE, but all nine counties with 287(g) agreements had canceled them by Monday's deadline.
Mail ballot mixup: Thousands of Maryland voters will get new primary election ballots in the mail after the State Board of Elections said some voters got the wrong party’s ballot for the June 23 primary because of a vendor error.
Potomac cleanup: The massive sewage spill in the Potomac left a lasting impact on public perception of the river. Now, researchers say environmental and health impacts could be felt into this summer and perhaps beyond. |
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