Tag: insulin prices

Speaker Hortman appoints legislators to work group on emergency insulin access

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Late Friday, October 18th, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman appointed Representatives Michael Howard and Tina Liebling to a work group tasked with resolving the differences between the House and Senate insulin proposals. Minority Leader Kurt Daudt appointed himself to represent his caucus.

“I’m pleased that we are moving ahead with a work group to address Minnesotans’ need for emergency access to insulin,” said Speaker Hortman. “The House DFL remains ready to complete this work as soon as possible. It’s long past time we got this done.”

Speaker Hortman asked for a report after 60 days. A letter from Speaker Hortman to Majority Leader Gazelka can be viewed below.

19-10-21 Speaker Hortman Letter to Gazelka

Statement from House DFL on Senate GOP insulin proposal

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Representative Michael Howard, chief author of the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act, released the following statements on the Senate Republican insulin proposal.

“Minnesotans have asked for legislation to provide emergency insulin to those who need it while holding the pharmaceutical industry accountable — which is why the Minnesota House passed the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act,” said Speaker Hortman. “While I appreciate that Senate Republicans have put a proposal forward, it is disappointing that this work was done without input from the advocates most directly impacted by insulin costs and instead with the pharmaceutical industry. House DFLers will continue to hold conversations with community members. We will have any proposed modifications to the legislation we already passed ready for consideration at our hearing on September 26th. We stand ready to partner with the Governor and the Senate to provide an emergency insulin program to Minnesotans as soon as possible.  There is no need to wait until next February for the regular session. Minnesotans need emergency insulin now.” Continue reading “Statement from House DFL on Senate GOP insulin proposal”

Speaker Hortman: House DFLers will have insulin bill ready by end of September

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House DFLers are holding four Community Conversations outside of the Capitol in September to listen to Minnesotans impacted by the high cost of insulin. On Thursday, September 26th at 1 p.m., the Health and Human Services Finance Division will hold a formal public hearing in Room 200 of the State Office Building to share ideas from the Community Conversations and discuss the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman released the following statement:

“We are spending the month of September listening to Minnesotans about their experiences trying to obtain affordable insulin. During the 2019 session we passed legislation in the Minnesota House to provide emergency insulin to Minnesotans who need it. At the hearing on September 26th, we will discuss our proposed legislation to address this public health emergency.

“Minnesotans shouldn’t lose their lives because they can’t afford the lifesaving medications they need, like insulin. House DFLers are ready to get this done. It shouldn’t have to wait until next year.”

A handout listing the Community Conversations and HHS Finance Committee hearing is available here:

Schedule of September events

State Lawmakers Hold Bipartisan Roundtable to Address Soaring Cost of Insulin

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Legislators, advocates, and Minnesotans with Type 1 diabetes met today at the Capitol for the first in a series of community conversations to discuss solutions to the high cost of insulin. In the coming weeks, House DFLers will hold more conversations outside of the Capitol to listen to Minnesotans impacted by the high cost of insulin. Details for each event will be announced after they are finalized.

“Minnesotans are rightly demanding that we take action to address a life and death issue facing Minnesotans who can’t afford the insulin they need to survive – it’s time for all for us to step up,” said Rep. Michael Howard (DFL – Richfield), author of the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act. “Insulin manufacturers that are profiting from the pain of Minnesotans need to step up. Senate Republican leaders that refuse to engage on this bill need to step up. We can’t rest until we pass this bill because lives are literally on the line.”  

This year, Rep. Howard introduced the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act to establish an emergency supply of insulin for Minnesotans who cannot afford their insulin, to be paid for by pharmaceutical companies who are profiting. The House approved the bill – named for a Richfield resident who tragically died after being forced to ration his insulin due to high costs – as part of its Health and Human Services budget. However, the measure stalled in the Senate. Continue reading “State Lawmakers Hold Bipartisan Roundtable to Address Soaring Cost of Insulin”

Mom asks Minnesota Sen. Karin Housley to stop blaming her diabetic son for his death

In 2017, Alec Smith turned 26, aging out of the Obamacare rule that he could get his health insurance through his parents’ policy.

He had Type 1 diabetes and needed insulin to manage it. But he didn’t have the money for a high deductible plan. He also didn’t have the $1,300 he needed each month to pay for insulin out of pocket. So he tried to ration it until his next paycheck. He would end up dying a month later.

This session, the Minnesota House passed the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act, which would levy a fee on pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay for emergency supplies of insulin for people who couldn’t afford it. Its success was short-lived. It died in the final moments courtesy of the Republican-controlled Senate, with 33 senators voting in favor and 34 against.

It was a surprising demise for a bill that originally had bipartisan support. Some lawmakers have been calling it a mere omission or oversight in the eleventh hour of the special session. In a debrief last week, Sen. Karin Housley (R-St. Mary’s Point) called the incident a “debacle” and “disappointing.”

View the complete June 4 article by Hannah Jones on The CityPages website here.

DFL Chair Ken Martin on Senator Michelle Benson’s Insulin Recommendations

“Another day, another callous and clueless health care remark from a Minnesota Republican. It’s frightening to me that someone like Senator Benson, the Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services and Policy committee, would recommend “coupons” and “emergency rooms” for Minnesotans being price-gouged by Big Pharma on something as consequential as life and death medications like as insulin.

“This kind of heartless approach to vital health care needs demonstrates once again that Republicans prioritizes profits over people. Across America, millions of people are trying to figure out where their next dose of lifesaving insulin is coming from, and Republicans like Michelle Benson are recommending costly and time-consuming Emergency Room visits instead holding price-gouging pharmaceutical companies responsible. This is unacceptable.

“House DFLers just released a package of bills that will lower the cost of vital prescription drugs like insulin. Senator Benson, when you’re ready to take this issue seriously, I’m sure they’d welcome your support.”

Link to post<https://t.co/Cg0svV97cJ>

House to Hold Hearing on Legislation to Address Skyrocketing Cost of Insulin

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Tomorrow, March 5, the House Commerce Committee will hear several bills to address the skyrocketing cost of insulin, including the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act. The hearing will take place in conjunction with Insulin for All Day at the Minnesota State Capitol, where Minnesotans will share their stories and struggles with access to affordable insulin. Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt will speak at the rally and testify before the House Commerce committee, sharing the story of their son Alec, who lost his life when we was forced to ration his insulin because he could not afford it.

“In Minnesota, no one should lose their life because they cannot afford the insulin they need to survive,” said Rep. Michael Howard. “I am grateful for the advocacy of Minnesotans across the state who are standing up to Big Pharma and urging leaders at all levels of government to take action. It is time that we listen and move forward with these important bills to make insulin more accessible and affordable for all.” Continue reading “House to Hold Hearing on Legislation to Address Skyrocketing Cost of Insulin”