In his State of the Union address tonight President Biden discussed efforts to lower health care costs, make prescription drugs more affordable, and improve access to health care. In response, Lisa Murdock, chief advocacy officer at the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) issued the following statement:
“The American Diabetes Association welcomes efforts to reduce health care costs for people living with diabetes. People with diagnosed diabetes now account for one of every four health care dollars spent in the U.S.
The ADA has long led the fight to make diabetes treatment more affordable, and there has been significant progress. The Inflation Reduction Act is helping 3.9 million Americans living with diabetes on Medicare to afford insulin. State co-pay caps and patient assistance from insulin manufacturers are also helping address the insulin affordability crisis. We look forward to building on this momentum to extend the $35 per month insulin cap to include people with commercial insurance and to continued efforts to lower the prices of other diabetes medication through ongoing Medicare negotiations. No one should have to miss out on a lifesaving medication because the system puts it financially out of reach.
We remain supportive of President Biden’s efforts to increase access to care and improve coverage for the uninsured and underinsured. Having health insurance is the strongest single predictor of whether adults with diabetes are likely to receive high quality diabetes care—care that is crucial to reducing serious complications such as the rising number of amputations.”
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About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 83 years, the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for the 136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life®. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).