The National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices held its fall meeting at the Youth Alternatives Conference/ Family Center in South Portland, Maine on October 26th. Legislators and staff from a number of states were in attendance to share their work, connect with peers, and learn more about cutting edge prescription drug programs and the legal issues surrounding them.

After welcoming remarks from Maine Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings and Maine Attorney General G. Steven Rowe, the meeting commenced with keynote speaker William von Oehsen?s enlightening talk "340B Partnership Opportunities for States: Expanding Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs through the Public Health Service Act" (link to the accompanying power point presentation below). Jude Walsh from the Maine Office of Health Policy and Finance addressed the attendees next on the subject of "Sovereign States: A Multistate Purchasing Initiative" (link to her power point presentation below). Nicole Brown, Policy Advisor to Senator Herb Kohl, Chairman of the US Senate Special Committee on Aging, discussed recent hearings held by the Committee titled ?Paid to Prescribe?: Exploring the Relationship Between Doctors and the Drug Industry? and ?Medicare Advantage Marketing & Sales: Who Has The Advantage??

Professor Sean Flynn of American University?s Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property spoke about current legal challenges to state laws regulating data mining, PBM transparency and prescription drug pricing. He was followed by Maine Representative Anne Perry, House Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, who discussed "Returning Unused Prescription Drugs: A Pilot Project" (view details of Rep. Perry?s work below). Boston University Law Student Lauren Smith closed out the meeting by presenting on the role of universities in assuring access to essential medicines (link to Universities Allied for Essential Medicines below).

Link to William von Oehsen's Power Point Presentation

Link to Jude Walsh's Power Point Presentation

Link to Rep. Perry's Power Point Presentation

Link to Universities Allied for Essential Medicines