ADA, Endocrine Society join President Biden in calling for insulin copay cap
Two major professional endocrinology organizations are calling on Congress to pass legislation capping out-of-pocket insulin costs for Americans with diabetes, according to two press releases.
During his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden urged Congress to approve legislation to lower prescription drug prices and reduce the out-of-pocket cost of insulin to $35 per month for Americans with diabetes. After the address, the American Diabetes Association and The Endocrine Society released statements praising Biden for addressing the rising cost of insulin.
“The American Diabetes Association joins this call on Congress to take swift action and pass legislation to cap monthly out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 for Americans with commercial insurance, group health plans and Medicare,” the ADA said in a statement. “The ADA has led the campaign resulting in the enactment of state-level out-of-pocket limits for insulin in 20 states and the District of Columbia. We’ve seen exactly how much Americans living with diabetes, who rely on insulin, stand to benefit from reducing the cost to patients of this lifesaving medication.”
“The Endocrine Society praised President Biden for affirming his commitment to improving insulin affordability during the State of the Union address,” the Endocrine Society said in a statement. “We cannot lose sight of this ongoing crisis, which continues to impact millions of Americans living with diabetes. The administration must work with Congress to find a meaningful solution. The society urges Congress to pass legislation on a bipartisan basis to make insulin more affordable for those who rely on it.”
As Healio previously reported, the U.S. House of Representatives approved social spending bill H.R. 5376, also known as the Build Back Better Act, on Nov. 19. The bill included a provision that would limit the out-of-pocket cost of insulin to $35 for a 30-day supply. The cap would apply to Medicare Part D as well as private group and individual health care plans and take effect in 2023. However, the bill stalled at the U.S. Senate.
On Feb. 17, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., introduced S.3700, a bill similar to the provision in H.R. 5376, which would cap out-of-pocket insulin costs for Medicare Part D recipients and those with group or individual health insurance beginning in 2023. A companion bill has also been introduced in the House by Reps. Angie Craig, D-Minn., Dan Kildee, D-Mich., and Lucy McBath, D-Ga., according to a press release.
“The ADA is supporting the Affordable Insulin Now Act introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives,” the ADA’s statement read. “The ADA encourages our nation’s leaders to join us in supporting these two critical bills and urges Congress to approve this $35 national insulin copay cap.”
Several states have acted on their own to cap insulin costs. Colorado was the first state to pass legislation limiting the cost of insulin copays per month in May 2019. In a little less than 3 years, 19 other states and the District of Columbia have joined Colorado in adopting their own legislation.
“Numerous bipartisan investigations and hearings have concluded that insulin is unaffordable for many people living with diabetes,” The Endocrine Society’s statement read. “Despite this acknowledgement, legislation has stalled in the Senate and both chambers still must agree on policy to advance to the president. We commend the bipartisan work that has been done by the House Energy & Commerce Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, and many other committees and caucuses to shed light on this issue. We urge Congress to come together and pass legislation to make insulin affordable as soon as possible. This legislation must address the drivers of rising insulin prices and implement solutions that will lower the out-of-pocket costs for patients.”
References:
- Congress.gov. S.3700 - Affordable Insulin Now Act. congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3700/text?r=1&s=1. Accessed March 2, 2022.
- Endocrine Society calls on Congress to address high insulin prices and consumer out-of-pocket costs. endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2022/endocrine-society-calls-on-congress-to-address-high-insulin-prices-and-consumer-out-of-pocket-costs. Published March 1, 2022. Accessed March 2, 2022.
- Representatives Craig, Kildee and McBath introduce bill to cap insulin costs at $35 per month. craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-craig-kildee-and-mcbath-introduce-bill-cap-insulin-costs-35. Published Feb. 24, 2022. Accessed March 2, 2022.
Read more about