Sens. Collins and Shaheen Offer New Insulin Proposal

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, have released a new proposal to reduce the cost of insulin.

What makes their proposal different from an insulin bill that passed in the House last month is that the two senators want to incentivize insulin manufacturers to reduce their list prices by not allowing insurance plans and pharmacy benefit managers to collect rebates, which they said drives up drug costs.

In a letter circulated to their Senate colleagues, in addition to calling for a $35 per month cap on out-of- pocket spending by patients covered by private insurance and Medicare Part D plans, they also proposed encouraging insulin manufacturers to reduce their list prices.

Lawmakers are also coming under pressure from advocacy groups, such as Human Rights Watch, to make insulin more accessible. That group argues that access to insulin is a human right and that the drug should ideally be available in the U.S. at no cost to patients.