HARRISBURG – Senator Doug Mastriano (PA-33) and Senator Dan Laughlin (PA-49) have introduced legislation to combat out of control insulin costs in Pennsylvania.
The Affordable Insulin Act (SB 957) will cap the price of insulin at $30 or less for an individual’s thirty-day supply of the life-sustaining medicine.
The bill will also direct the Attorney General to investigate pricing of insulin in Pennsylvania to ensure adequate pricing is achieved and determine if additional consumer protections are necessary. A report of the findings of the investigation will be made available to the public no later than one year after enactment.
1.4 million individuals in Pennsylvania, over 11% of the population, are currently diagnosed with diabetes. Additionally, 3.5 million Pennsylvanians have pre-diabetes and an estimated 89,000 are newly diagnosed each year. These individuals often rely on insulin to survive and manage their blood sugar.
“Nobody suffering from diabetes in our Commonwealth should be forced to ration their life-sustaining insulin,” Senator Mastriano said. “The patent for insulin has been around for close to 100 years and yet out of pocket costs continue to rise. Especially in a time of high inflation, the General Assembly must take action to make insulin more affordable for the growing number of our residents suffering from diabetes. SB 957 will accomplish that and look to future solutions by instituting an investigation of the insulin supply chain as a whole.”
“Individuals with diabetes have medical expenses approximately 2.3 times higher than those who do not, and total direct medical expenses for diagnosed diabetes in Pennsylvania were estimated at $9.3 billion in 2017,” said Sen. Laughlin. “For people with diabetes who require insulin and currently struggle with its cost, this legislation will make it more accessible and affordable.”
Passage of SB 957 would have Pennsylvania join over 20 other states who have recently enacted laws to institute caps on insulin co-pays.
The bill has been referred to the Banking and Insurance Committee where it now awaits a vote.
Contact: Josh Herman (Mastriano)
Matt Azeles (Laughlin)