2021 State Legislative Session Recap on States’ Efforts to Lower Drug Costs

This commentary examines state actions during 2021 legislative sessions to address rising drug costs. During the past year, 20 states enacted 43 laws to contain drug prices, an increase from the 17 states that enacted 41 laws last year, despite states’ ongoing focus on COVID-19. Enacted state laws include establishing a prescription drug affordability board, limiting patients’ out-of-pocket insulin costs, regulating pharmacy benefit managers, and requiring transparency from entities throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain.