Shaheen Applauds House Introduction of Bipartisan Bill to Cap Monthly Out-of-Pocket Insulin Costs

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of the bipartisan INSULIN Act and co-chair of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus , today released the following statement on the introduction of companion legislation to the INSULIN Act in the U.S. House of Representatives: “I am thrilled that the House of Representatives has introduced companion legislation to our bill capping monthly out-of-pocket insulin costs at just $35—a key step in finally delivering needed financial relief to the millions of Americans who rely on daily insulin to survive. The robust bipartisan support across the ideological spectrum in both chambers of Congress underscores the real need to get this done and lower costs for Americans with diabetes across this country. “With growing momentum behind our proposal in both the House and Senate, and with Americans making clear that Congress must prioritize efforts that address health care affordability, time is of the essence to pass our bill through both chambers and send the INSULIN Act to the President’s desk. To that end, the House and Senate must immediately take up floor votes to help all Americans—including the more than one million people with diabetes who are uninsured—who need access to affordable insulin to survive.” In July, the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act advanced out of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on a broad bipartisan basis. Polling released from the American Diabetes Association this summer found that 40% of respondents who rely on insulin report paying more than $150 per month for insulin, and 76% of respondents across political parties support a $35 limit on cost sharing for insulin. Yesterday, Shaheen hosted a roundtable discussion with health care leaders and individuals living with diabetes at Lamprey Health in Nashua, New Hampshire to highlight the rising cost of insulin and the need for Congress to pass her bipartisan INSULIN Act . ###