Rep. Scanlon's Bill Caps Insulin Cost, Sen. Cohen On Board

HARTFORD, CT —State Rep. Sean Scanlon (D-Guilford), House Chair of the Insurance & Real Estate Committee and other legislators in a bi-partisan move announced this week a new bill to cap costs of insulin and allow for access to emergency insulin without a prescription.

"The cost of insulin is out of control and the bill we announced today will ensure Connecticut residents finally have access to affordable insulin," said Rep. Scanlon. "By capping the cost of insulin and insulin supplies at $100 per month, Connecticut would have the lowest insulin costs in the country and diabetics would no longer have to worry about affording the medicine they need to survive."

Rep. Scanlon said he held 10 forums with colleagues across the state last summer and fall and heard the same message over and over.

“The people of Connecticut are fed up and frankly scared about the never-ending cost increases of insulin and I hope this bill will give them peace of mind for the first time in a long time that help is on the way,” Scanlon said.

“We have two goals. One is saving money for families who need insulin in Connecticut; one is saving lives,” said Sen. Lesser. “No one in Connecticut should die because they need insulin.”

State Sen. Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) said, “One in four insulin patients aren’t using enough insulin to remain healthy. People are suffering, and we need action now to combat insulin price increases. Thanks to the leadership of the Insurance Committee, that is exactly what this bill does. While Senate Bill 1 is a priority for Senate Democrats, I’m pleased that this legislative proposal is receiving widespread, bipartisan support. Diabetes doesn’t recognize political party lines, and we need to be working across the aisle to ensure this comes to fruition.”

Scanlon’s bill contains several provisions to help diabetes patients and their families including:

• Capping insulin costs including for all insulin and diabetes supplies at $100/month. This would be the toughest cap in the country.
• Allowing patients to go to a pharmacist up to three times a year on an emergency basis to get insulin filled without a prescription.
• Using a fund created by unused prescriptions the Department of Social Services to fund a new program to assist low-income type 1 diabetics access insulin.