Congresswoman Scanlon Votes to Lower Cost of Insulin for Pennsylvania Families
Washington, D.C.,
March 31, 2022
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) and every House Democrat today voted for landmark legislation to deliver lower insulin costs for American families. All but 12 Republicans voted against the bill. By capping expenses, the Affordable Insulin Now Act will ensure that Pennsylvanians pay no more than $35 out-of-pocket for a monthly supply of insulin.
“Today, the House passed a bill to provide significant financial relief to the millions of Americans who rely on insulin to manage their diabetes,” said Rep. Scanlon. “I’ve heard concerns about the price of insulin, and other prescription drugs, since my first day in office. I hear from people about this issue at church, when I visit schools, in the grocery store — pretty much any time I’m out and about in the community. I’m proud to be able to support this real solution to a real problem that keeps my constituents up at night. It is shocking that 193 of our Republican colleagues could vote against such a life-saving measure, given the urgency of the situation. While capping insulin costs is a good first step, this is just the beginning. We must keep pushing to bring down the cost of all prescription drugs, and I’ll keep fighting to do so.”
Rising by 54 percent from 2014 to 2019, the cost of insulin has created an affordability crisis for the 9.6% of Pennsylvania residents living with diabetes. Americans currently face an average price of $98.70 for a unit of insulin — 10 times higher than in other wealthy nations. One in four Americans who rely on insulin has been forced to ration doses due to high prices — a last resort with potentially fatal consequences.
The Affordable Insulin Now Act will require private health insurance plans to cover insulin, limiting monthly cost-sharing to $35 or 25 percent of a plan’s negotiated price — whichever is lower. It also requires Medicare prescription drug plans to limit cost-sharing for insulin to $35 per month. This legislation comes as House Democrats continue working to advance comprehensive reform addressing the high cost of prescription drugs. ### |
