Diabetes experts urge Senate to pass bill and send for President’s signature.
The Endocrine Society hailed the House of Representatives for including provisions to improve insulin affordability in its version of the Build Back Better Act.
“This bill offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect access to this life-saving medication,” says Society President Carol H. Wysham, MD. “People with diabetes cannot wait any longer for Congress to take action. We urge the Senate to quickly follow suit.”
For millions of Americans living with diabetes, including all people living with type 1 diabetes, insulin is a life-saving drug that must be taken to control blood sugar. Although insulin has been available for 100 years, its prices continue to increase and have nearly tripled over the past 15 years.
The Endocrine Society has prioritized the need for affordable insulin for years. Our members have worked to educate Congress about the barriers people with diabetes face in accessing affordable insulin. We have shared policy recommendations, testimony, and a collection of patient stories illustrating that people with diabetes continue to suffer due to the high price of insulin.
The House’s version of the Build Back Better Act includes the following provisions that the Endocrine Society supports:
- Gives the government authority to negotiate the price of certain drugs, including insulin.
- Caps insulin co-pays at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries.
- Institutes an inflation cap ensuring that the price of insulin doesn’t increase faster than inflation.
The inflation cap would apply to Medicare and the private insurance market to protect individuals with diabetes from price hikes.
“This bill has the potential to save the lives of people with diabetes,” Wysham says. “We are thankful to President Biden and Members of Congress who have persisted in prioritizing access to affordable insulin.”
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