Shaheen Announces 4 New Cosponsors of Bipartisan Bill to Cap Monthly Insulin Costs at $35, Bringing Total to 18 Bipartisan Senators

**Nine Senators from each party now cosponsor the Shaheen-led bill to lower insulin costs for Americans with and without insurance** (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today announced four new cosponsors of the bipartisan INSULIN Act that would make life more affordable for Americans living with diabetes. U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jim Justice (R-WV) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) are backing the bipartisan bill led by Diabetes Caucus Co-Chairs Senators Shaheen and Susan Collins (R-ME), as well as Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and John Kennedy (R-LA). “For years, West Virginia has been deeply impacted by diabetes and the rising cost of insulin,” Senator Capito said. “By limiting out-of-pocket insulin costs for individuals with private or employer-sponsored insurance, we can bring immediate financial relief to millions of Americans—including many West Virginians.” “Far too many Virginians and people throughout the country have to ration their insulin, or even go without it, because of how expensive it is,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to cap insulin prices at $35 a month for people with private insurance and take strides toward making sure those without insurance can afford the insulin they need – building on the progress made under the Biden Administration to cap insulin costs for those on Medicare. I encourage all of my Senate colleagues to support this commonsense legislation that would meaningfully improve so many lives.” “Far too many families in West Virginia know the burden of diabetes firsthand and have had to stretch every dollar to afford that next insulin shot. We ought to be doing everything we can to help folks get the care they need, but too often, people get left behind. The INSULIN Act cuts through the nonsense and gives folks some peace of mind by letting them know upfront what their insulin will cost and where they can get it. At the end of the day, this is about making life a little easier without adding healthcare stress,” said Senator Justice. “The healthcare crisis currently facing our nation is undeniable, and we must use every tool to lower the cost of care for American families,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud to support the bipartisan INSULIN Act to cap the cost of this life-saving medication and ensure Americans have access to the treatments they need.” The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act would cap the monthly out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 for Americans on private and employer-sponsored insurance and create a pilot program to provide insulin at the same cost to Americans without insurance. In addition to Shaheen, Collins, Warnock, Kennedy, Capito, Kaine, Justice and Blunt Rochester, the legislation is supported by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Angus King (I-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Katie Britt (R-AL), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Roger Wicker (R-MS). The push to cap the monthly cost of insulin comes as the cost of health care continues to top Americans’ affordability concerns . The INSULIN Act would directly address the root problems in the insulin market causing high list prices, while simultaneously extending vital patient protections, fostering competition and broadening access to needed insulin products. Specifically, the INSULIN Act : Limits out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes by ensuring that group and individual market health plans must waive any deductible and limit cost-sharing to no more than $35 per month for at least one insulin of each type and dosage form. Mandates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) pass through 100% of insulin rebates and other discounts received from manufacturers to plan sponsors, reducing perverse incentives in the insulin market that encourage high list prices and help patients in the form of reduced premiums. Promotes generic and biosimilar competition to lower costs for patients. Creates a pilot grant program for 10 states to implement programs to identify uninsured diabetes patients and provide them with insulin at $35 a month. Establishes an insulin resource center and hotline for uninsured diabetes patients to connect them with resources about diabetes and programs to help them secure insulin. The bipartisan legislation is supported by the American Diabetes Association, Breakthrough T1D, the Endocrine Society, the National Kidney Foundation and others. ###