NJ for Affordable Drugs

Drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them. Big pharmaceutical corporations have raised prices so high that millions of Americans can’t access the affordable medicines needed to treat illnesses, manage their health, and take care of their families. In New Jersey, 1 in 4 adults don’t fill a prescription or skip doses of prescribed drugs because of cost.

Our state is working to help with that. The New Jersey Prescription Drug Affordability Council, or PDAC, was formed to protect residents from high prescription drug costs. This independent council of policy and industry experts is tasked with getting to the bottom of why our prescription medications cost so much and make recommendations to our policymakers and elected officials that will help lower these costs for everyone.

PDAC meets monthly—in Zoom meetings that are open to the public and have a public comment section. New Jersey was the 8^th state to establish this institution; Colorado and Maryland first adopted it and are about to implement some exciting new measures to lower drug costs in their states. In 2026, PDAC will share its first report on how New Jersey should move forward on drug costs.

Get Involved with PDAC

To learn more about PDAC in general, visit the state link here.

Talk to PDAC directly: PDAC meetings are open to the public. You can attend the monthly Zoom meeting and there is an opportunity for the public to speak up. For PDAC’s public meeting times, meeting agendas and minutes, visit this link here.

The NJ For Affordable Drugs campaign partners regularly attends PDAC meetings. We need YOUR input on how prescription drugs costs affect you, your family, and your community to better inform both PDAC and our policymakers. If you’re struggling with drug costs, or face other challenges involving drug costs, contact us here.

Resources

State Reform

On July 10, 2023, Governor Murphy signed S1615 into law as part of his overall prescription drug affordability package. See below for press coverage of the bill signing.