AACE, Endocrine Society Call for insulin affordability initiatives

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the Endocrine Society called on the American Medical Association to address the rising cost of insulin and the associated burden placed on patients with diabetes, the organizations announced in a press release.

At the 2017 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, AACE and the Endocrine Society introduced a joint resolution requesting that the AMA convene a summit to identify potential solutions to the dramatic increase in insulin costs and advocate for initiatives that will reduce patient cost-sharing for insulins, stabilize drug formularies throughout a plan year to reduce nonmedical switching of insulin products, facilitate greater transparency of insulin pricing and integrate drug formularies into electronic health records.

The House of Delegates unanimously voted for the AMA to study these issues and provide a report with findings and recommendations to the House of Delegates at the 2018 Annual Meeting in June.

“We are concerned rising insulin prices have created a barrier hindering people with diabetes who are insulin-dependent from obtaining the treatments they need,” Susan J. Mandel, MD, MPH, president-elect of the Endocrine Society, said in the release. “The approved initiatives will engage stakeholders to work together to improve access to lifesaving therapies.”

“This is an important and encouraging step toward addressing the issues of ever-increasing insulin prices and the challenges that our patients face in accessing this life-saving medication,” Jonathan D. Leffert, MD, FACP, FACE, ECNU, president of AACE, said in the release. “AACE is pleased to collaborate with our colleagues at the Endocrine Society to address this issue that is so critical to all of our patients.”