Oregon Prescription Drug Board Hosts Community Forums on Affordability

Residents share how high medication costs impact their lives and budgets

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:44pm

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A glowing neon outline of a medicine bottle or pill capsule, floating against a dark background and defined by vibrant, pulsing lines in shades of blue, green, and purple, conceptually representing the energy and urgency around the issue of prescription drug affordability.Community forums give Oregonians a voice in addressing the high cost of prescription drugs.Redmond Today

The Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is hosting a series of in-person and online community forums in April and May to hear directly from Oregonians about the high cost of prescription drugs and how it affects their lives. The feedback will help inform the board's annual review of medications that may create affordability challenges for patients.

Why it matters

Prescription drug costs are a major burden for many Oregonians, forcing some to ration or skip medications due to unaffordable out-of-pocket expenses. The PDAB was created to protect the state's health care system and residents from these high costs, and the community forums are a key part of their review process to identify affordability issues.

The details

The in-person forums will be held in Salem, Redmond, Portland, and Beaverton, while online forums are scheduled for late April and May. The board is inviting patients, caregivers, and consumers to share their personal experiences with the cost of medications and how it impacts their lives and budgets. This feedback will help inform the PDAB's annual review of specific drugs that may create affordability challenges for Oregonians.

  • The in-person forums will be held on May 5, May 6, May 12, and May 18.
  • The online forums are scheduled for April 28, May 11, May 13, and May 20.

The players

Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB)

A state board created in 2021 to protect Oregonians and the state's health care system from high prescription drug costs. The board conducts annual reviews of medications that may create affordability challenges.

Sarah Young

The executive director of the Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

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What they’re saying

“We invite all Oregonians to join us at these forums and share your stories about the cost of your medications and how those costs impact your lives.”

— Sarah Young, Executive Director, Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board

What’s next

The feedback from the community forums will help inform the PDAB's annual review of specific medications that may create affordability challenges for Oregonians. The board will present its findings and recommendations to the Oregon Legislature later this year.

The takeaway

By directly engaging with residents, the Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board is taking an important step to understand the real-world impact of high medication costs on individuals and families. This feedback will guide the board's efforts to identify and address affordability issues in the state's health care system.