Representative Bush says, “We cannot solely rely on the whims of pharmaceutical companies.“
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has introduced a bill that would cap the list price for insulin at a per-vial price of $20. Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has already placed a $35-per-month cap on insulin prices.
Senator Sanders, who is the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, stated, “There is no reason why Americans should pay the highest prices in the world for insulin—in some cases, ten times as much as people in other countries.”
Representative Cori Bush of Missouri, a nurse, introduced the bill in the House. She said, “As a nurse, I’ve seen too many people in our communities struggle to afford their life-saving insulin medication. People are left choosing between insulin or groceries; insulin or rent; insulin or child care. This is unacceptable.”
She added, “We cannot solely rely on the whims of pharmaceutical companies to set standards of patient care and determine who can afford medication. Congress must act swiftly to remove the costly burden of insulin for patients with diabetes and save lives.”
A study by Yale University shows that over 30 million Americans have diabetes, and more than 7 million of them require daily doses of insulin.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Senator Sanders as he promotes the legislation on the insulin price cap.
- For Congresswoman Bush as she supports the effort to increase insulin affordability.
- For members of Congress as they deliberate on the legislation in their respective chambers.
Sources: Yale News, The Hill
