A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
All Michiganders should be able to afford the prescription medications they depend upon to live long and healthy lives.
And, yet, the cost of prescription drugs in our country and state are consistently rising faster than inflation, making them increasingly unaffordable for the average Michigan resident. In fact, the Michigan Prescription Drug Task Force has found that almost a third of Michigan residents, ages 19 to 64, have stopped taking their prescriptions because of cost and 6 in 10 Michiganders, 50 and older, reported concerns over not being able to afford to fill their prescriptions in a 2022 AARP survey. Michiganders have also resorted to not taking medications as prescribed or cutting pills in half in order to stretch their prescriptions longer and delay refills.
While there are a lot of tough choices that people must make in their daily lives, choosing between paying for life-saving medications and paying for other basic life necessities–such as food, housing and utilities–should certainly not be one of them. In Michigan, an average of 1,030,529 families were facing high housing-cost burdens from 2017-2021 and 282,320 children were food insecure in 2021. The challenges that these families and other Michiganders face on a daily basis are only exacerbated by inflated prescription costs.
And when people are forced to stop taking prescriptions because of insurmountable costs, we know that the impacts on their health–both physical and mental–can be devastating. Untreated medical conditions can result in long-term chronic conditions or pain, depression, isolation, school and job absences, and lost wages. Some people even end up in the hospital and, in the absolute worst of cases, may end up losing their life. The cost of a prescription drug should not be a barrier to staying healthy.
The good news is that the Michigan Legislature currently has before them a package of bills that would help rein in the inflated cost of prescription drugs in Michigan through the creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). PDABs go beyond transparency laws by bringing together an independent, nonpartisan board of experts that can use evidence-backed research to successfully set upper payment limits for the most expensive prescription drugs on the market. In addition to having a direct and lasting impact on Michiganders, a PDAB here in Michigan would also result in improved oversight of pharmaceutical companies and bring down healthcare costs for employers, local municipalities and other groups that insure people.
PDABs have already been established in several states–including Maryland, Colorado, Minnesota, Washington, New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon and Ohio–and we here at the Michigan League for Public Policy have joined several state partners in advocating for Michigan to join this growing list.
We’re not alone in our support of a PDAB for Michigan either. In fact, a statewide poll conducted by EPIC-MRA last month showed that 84% of active and likely November 2024 voters in Michigan support the establishment of a PDAB. And these types of boards also have buy-in from the medical community and have had bipartisan support in other states.
We applaud Sen. Darrin Camilleri, Sen. Veronica Klinefelt and Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet for introducing Senate Bills 483, 484 and 485 respectively, and we hope to see the Michigan Legislature take swift action on this important legislation this fall for the health and economic well-being of their constituencies
With these bills on the table, our lawmakers have a real opportunity to follow the lead of several other states in establishing a board that can effectively make life-changing and life-saving medications more accessible and affordable to all Michiganders.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
