Texas Border Business
Congressman Henry Cuellar voted in favor of the Affordable Insulin Now Act to cap out-of-pocket Insulin costs at $35 per month in Medicare Part D and commercial health insurance plans. Beginning in 2023, the bill requires private health plans to cover at least one of each type and dosage form of insulin. Historically, diabetes has affected the Hispanic community disproportionately. South Texas has a 20% higher rate of diabetes compared to the rest of the state. My district knows this all too well. Our grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends struggle to afford the life-saving Insulin medication which has risen in price more than 50% over the last decade. This legislation is non-negotiable—we must lower the out-of-pocket cost of Insulin. As your representative in Congress, I will continue to support legislation that keeps more money in your pockets while keeping our family and friends healthy and safe. |
The legislation caps cost-sharing for a 30-day supply at the lesser of $35 or 25 percent of a plan’s negotiated price. The bill also requires all Medicare prescription drug plans to cap cost-sharing for insulin at no more than $35.
As a strong advocate for diabetes prevention and treatment, I previously secured language in the FY22 onmibus appropriation legislation with $1,338,664,000 for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, including $151,129,000 to enhance efforts to prevent diabetes and reduce its complications, and $33,300,000 to expand the Diabetes Prevention Program.
To view a summary of the Insulin bill, click here.