CONGRESSMAN MORELLE TAKES ACTION TO LOWER INSULIN COSTS FOR FAMILIES

(Rochester, NY)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced the House of Representatives has passed legislation to dramatically lower the cost of insulin, a prescription medication millions of diabetes patients rely on to survive. Rep. Morelle and local health advocates highlighted the Affordable Insulin Now Act and called on the Senate to take immediate action on the bill.

“Over the past two decades, the cost of prescription drugs like insulin have artificially skyrocketed,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “I’ve talked with too many patients in my community that have had to ration their dose or stop taking this life-saving medication altogether and that’s unacceptable. I’m proud to have passed this legislation to reign in these inflated costs and protect patients—ensuring the best possible health outcomes for those living with diabetes. I urge the Senate to join us in passing this legislation immediately.”

"Older adults, who struggle to pay for insulin, have to make a life and death decision every day,” said Ann Marie Cook, President/CEO of Lifespan of Greater Rochester. “It is simply not right! It is impossible for people on fixed incomes to absorb the ever-increasing cost of insulin in their limited household budget. I applaud Congressman Morelle for strongly advocating for older adults and for ensuring that people in our community have the medications they need to live.”

“As health care providers, we see the adverse impact high drug prices can have on patients,” said Dr. Mathew Devine, Medical Director, Highland Family Medicine and President, Monroe County Medical Society. “Access to medications like insulin is one of the keys to equity in health care in our community, and I applaud Rep. Morelle for his persistence and leadership in getting this legislation through the House.” 

In 2019, Rep. Morelle commissioned a report by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform showing the price of insulin for diabetic patients in Monroe County is roughly 21 times more expensive than the identical medicine is in Australia, 14 times more than in the United Kingdom, and 12 times more than it is just across the border in Canada. Even worse, studies show that manufacturers could charge as little as $7-$11 per month for Insulin and still make a profit—yet prices for these drugs continue to rise to over $450 per month. The Affordable Insulin Now takes steps to address this injustice by requiring both Medicare Part D and commercial health insurance plans to cover insulin and cap cost-sharing beginning in 2023.

Specifically, this legislation will:

• Cap the out-of-pocket insulin cost for Medicare beneficiaries at $35 for a 30-day supply.

• Require private health plans to cover at least one of each type and dosage form of insulin.

• Cap cost-sharing for a 30-day supply of insulin under private health plans at the lesser of $35 or 25 percent of a plan’s negotiated price.

For more information, read the full text of the bill here.