Elvira Salazar Votes NO on Capping Insulin Price at $35

The Affordable Insulin Now Act has passed the House. While the effort to lower the price of insulin has received bipartisan support, Republicans have been wary of the bill that would cap the price of insulin at $35. Although it did pass the House with a 232-193 vote, Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) voted no with other lawmakers that argue the bill does not addressing larger concerns with pharmaceutical drugs.

The Congressional Budget Office provided information regarding the legislation, which is supported by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

“Medical beneficiaries would pay no more than $35 for each 30-day insulin prescription,” says the CBO, adding that “cost sharing for beneficiaries in private plans would be limited to the lesser of $35 or 25 percent of the plan’s negotiated price for a 30-day prescription.”

Senator Chuck Grassley (R) who was worked alongside Senator Ron Wyden (D), the Senate Finance Committee Chairman, on investigations and legislations pertaining to insulin costs argues in favor of a broader approach he feels the legislation does not take.

Grassley's spokesperson, Taylor Foy commented that “there’s no doubt that insulin is one of many essential medications that has become less and less affordable.” Because of that, “bipartisan proposals in Congress, such as the Grassley-Wyden Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, would address the root causes of price increases for not just insulin, but many other medications as well.”

Critics of the legislation argue that it would instead raise premiums while also not addressing “pharmaceutical middlemen” that are alleged to contribute greatly to the skyrocketing price of insulin.

Lisa Murdock, the chief advocacy officer for the ADA, commented that the organization supports the bill because “the bill’s $35 monthly out-of-pocket cap on insulin could be life-changing for the millions of Americans with diabetes who use insulin.” Moreover, she cited that the legislation helps “the one in four individuals with diabetes who were forced to ration their insulin during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increasing cost.”

Currently, in the Senate, New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D) and Maine Senator Susan Collins (R) are collaborating on a bipartisan insulin bill.