Today, the California Assembly Health Committee passed Assembly Bill 2203 (Nazarian), legislation that will cap insulin co-pays at $50 per 30-day supply of insulin and total out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $100 for those in state-regulated health insurance plans. The legislation also authorizes the California Attorney General to investigate the rising price of insulin in the state. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is sponsoring the legislation along with the Health Trust.
“The American Diabetes Association is appreciative of the support of our bill author Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian and co-author, Assembly Health Committee Chairman, Jim Wood, for reducing insulin prices for Californians,” said Francisco Prieto, MD, Vice Chair of the ADA’s National Advocacy Committee, who testified on behalf of the ADA at the committee hearing. “There are more than 34 million Americans living with diabetes, and approximately 7 million of them must take insulin every day to live. People with diabetes often face financial hardships affording their insulin. A nationwide survey conducted by ADA found that one in four insulin users are impacted by the cost of insulin and cut back or skip doses, or forgo other necessities including rent or utilities to pay for the life-saving insulin they need.”
Assemblymember Nazarian introduced the legislation after learning about the plight of Californians who could not afford to pay for their insulin. “Insulin is now unaffordable for many Californians. This is very dangerous as people with diabetes are at greater risk for poor health outcomes and death from COVID-19. It’s more critical than ever that we make sure people can afford their insulin and stay healthy and away from emergency rooms and hospitals,” said Assemblymember Nazarian.
AB 2203 passed the Assembly Health Committee and now advances to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
If you are struggling to pay for insulin or know someone who is, ADA has resources to help—visit InsulinHelp.org.
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,About the American Diabetes Association
Every day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. 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 nearly 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. 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 (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
