Senator Reverend Warnock Urges House of Representatives to Immediately Pass $35 Insulin Cap, Calls on Senate to Follow Suit

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock's (D-GA) called on the House to immediately pass legislation modeled on his Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would require insurers to cap patient out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 per month. This bill is expected to lower insulin costs for many of the over one million Georgia patients, or more than 12% of the state's adult population, living with diabetes. As a result of Senator Warnock's leadership, the legislation has gained support from President Biden, 34 Democratic Senate co-sponsors, the American Diabetes Association, and Protect Our Care; the House is expected to vote on the legislation on Thursday.

"I hear from Georgians every day that they are forced to choose between basic essentials and the insulin they need to stay alive," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "Georgians can't wait one more day for affordable insulin, and Congress can't wait one more day to take action. Today, I'm calling on the House of Representatives to immediately pass my legislation, and the Senate to follow suit. Republican states like Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama have put similar caps on insulin at the state level, so there should be overwhelming bipartisan support to pass my legislation. I'll keep using every option at my disposal to lower the cost of this life-saving medication for Georgians."

Under the Affordable Insulin Now Act, private group or individual plans would be required to cover one of each insulin dosage form (vial, pen) and insulin type (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting) for no more than $35 per month. Medicare Part D plans, both stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage drug plans, would be required to charge no more than $35 for the insulin products they cover. In addition to pressing the Senate to take up his legislation, for weeks Senator Warnock has been in regular contact with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to push for a bipartisan deal to lower insulin costs for Georgians that includes his proposal to cap out-of-pocket costs at $35 a month. Senator Warnock has spoken with Senator Collins (R-ME) and met with Senator Shaheen (D-NH) multiple times to ensure any bipartisan insulin proposal also includes his critical provision to cap out-of-pocket costs, and is pleased an agreement has been reached in principle to include his bill in any future bipartisan insulin legislation.

Additionally, lowering rising costs and providing access to affordable health care have been top priorities for Senator Warnock. As the sponsor of the Medicaid Saves Lives Act, Senator Warnock has fought in the Senate for a federal fix to close the Medicaid coverage gap in Georgia and the other 11 non-expansion states. In December 2021, the Senator also introduced the Capping Prescription Costs Act aimed at saving families and individuals money on their medications by requiring insurers to cap out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.

Watch video of Senator Reverend Warnock discussing his new bill to lower insulin costs HERE. For more information on the Affordable Insulin Now Act, visit HERE.

Read the full bill text HERE.

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