CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ VOTES TO MAKE INSULIN AFFORDABLE FOR SOUTH TEXANS
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) voted for H.R. 6833, the Affordable Insulin Now Act, to ease the burden of insulin for families across South Texas. This legislation will cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 per month.
"The Rio Grande Valley has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country with many South Texans requiring insulin daily. We know all too well how burdensome the rising cost of insulin is on our families," stated Congressman Gonzalez. "On average, Americans pay more than 10 times the price for insulin than other countries while it costs pharmaceutical companies less than $10 to produce. This long overdue legislation is an important step to lower families' out of pocket costs for life-saving drugs."
According to Debra Franco, Executive Director of the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association, "Our organization serves children with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Over the past 10 years we have seen families impacted by high insulin prices. Some have lost their jobs or homes, and others struggle to decide between buying food or insulin for their children who require it. We are grateful for Congressman Gonzalez's vote today because cost should not be a factor when you are talking about children whose health and very life depend on it."
The Affordable Insulin Now Act would require Medicare Part D plans and commercial health insurance plans to cover insulin and cap cost-sharing at no more than $35 per month.
Beginning in 2023, private health plans will cover at least one of each type and dosage form of insulin and cap cost-sharing for a 30-day supply at the lesser of $35 or 25 percent of a plan's negotiated price. The bill also requires all Medicare prescription drug plans to cap cost-sharing for insulin at no more than $35.
Half of individuals with private health insurance would save at least $19 per month and a quarter would save at least $42 per month. Individuals who buy their own insurance will experience the most savings.
This bill is paid for by delaying the implementation for one year of the Rebate Rule that was published by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services on November 30, 2020.
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