Rx for Retention: County Strategies for Prescription Drug Spending

As prescription drug costs continue to climb, counties face a difficult balancing act between protecting employee health and keeping budgets in check.

Prescription drug spending has become one of the fastest-growing pressures on county health plans, directly affecting both workforce retention and fiscal stability. Counties serve as major employers and rely on competitive health benefits to attract and retain qualified workers, particularly in essential roles like public safety. Yet escalating drug prices and opaque pricing systems have driven up insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for employees. At the same time, counties are tasked with maintaining sustainable budgets and access to care.

Title: Rx for Retention: County Strategies for Prescription Drug Spending

Description: Counties, as public employers, bear the growing costs of prescription drugs through the health insurance coverage they provide to employees and their families. While counties subsidize these health plans, employees also share the burden through premiums, co-payments, and deductibles. Rising drug prices threaten counties’ ability to offer comprehensive and affordable benefits while straining local budgets. This session will explore the complex drivers behind prescription drug costs and examine how changes in both state and federal policies could affect county health plans and prescription drug costs. The conversation will also touch on the work of Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board and its efforts to curb excessive costs across the public sector. Attendees will gain practical insights into how strategic drug benefit management can support workforce well-being, strengthen recruitment and retention, and uphold responsible use of public funds.

Speakers: