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A bill to cap the cost of insulin prices at $35 per month for Americans with diabetes was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.
The House approved H.R. 6833, also known as the Affordable Insulin Now Act, by a vote of 232-193, with all votes against coming from Republicans.
According to the bill, beginning on January 1, 2023, group health plans and health issuers offering insurance coverage cannot apply a deductible on insulin and cannot require Americans with diabetes to pay more than $35 or the amount equal to 25% of the negotiated price of the selected insulin product, whichever is lower. The bill was introduced on February 25, 2022, by Reps. Angie Craig, D-Minn., Dan Kildee, D-Mich., and Lucy McBath, D-Ga.
“I am so proud to have worked with my colleagues to bring this bill to a vote and secure its passage in the House,” McBath said. “We must bring a measure of certainty and affordability to every American who needs insulin to continue living a healthy life. This is a bill that will lower costs for almost 40 million Americans, and it will save lives.”
The Affordable Insulin Now Act is a companion measure to legislation introduced by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock in the Senate, which has also been co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The bill has support from 34 Democratic senators, but no Republicans yet, leaving its fate uncertain. The bill would need 10 Republicans to support the bill in order to pass it through the Senate.
“If 10 Republicans stand between the American people being able to get access to affordable insulin, that’s a good question for 10 Republicans to answer,” said Rep. Dan Kildee. “Republicans get diabetes, too. Republicans die from diabetes.”
Democrats have long pushed for broader legislation to lower drug prices and included in their sweeping Build Back Better package a measure to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices in some instances.
That bill passed the House, but stalled in the Senate due to concerns from Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.
