Diabetes is a costly chronic condition; successful disease management requires ongoing access to diabetes-specific supplies and services, as well as insulin and other medications. As patient costs rise, patient adherence to care regimens declines and the risk of expensive and life-threatening complications increases. We applaud Congress for capping out-of-pocket (OOP) insulin costs at $35 per monthly prescription among Medicare Part D enrollees, but more must be done. It is time for Congress to help all Americans with diabetes by setting a national standard across all government and commercial plans for low, predictable cost-sharing on insulin.
Congress needs to fix the broken rebate system that drives up prescription drug costs for consumers. Americans who pay a premium to an insurance company should get the benefit of rebates and discounts negotiated on their behalf. Prescription drugs should not be treated differently than other covered health care products and services where patient cost sharing reflects net cost rather than inflated list prices.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity rates in the U.S. have increased dramatically over the last 30 years. Obesity leaves Americans vulnerable to more than 200serious health conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. A landmark National Diabetes Prevention Program study found that the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes is reduced by 59% when lifestyle modifications are made. To be most effective, obesity management must encompass the best standards of treatments and coordination of care including intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) and pharmaceutical treatments, to which access is currently limited by Medicare.
In July 2020, members of the DPAC Team, alongside DPAC Champion Paul Madden, visited the White House and were able to relay to then-President Trump and other top officials the importance of affordable insulin access. The speech’s international exposure correctly focused on the prohibitive, high price of insulin and prescription drugs and the importance of affordability and access for people with diabetes to increase productivity benefitting theirs and their families’ lives.
In July 2020, members of the DPAC Team, alongside DPAC Champion Paul Madden, visited the White House and were able to relay to then-President Trump and other top officials the importance of affordable insulin access. The speech’s international exposure correctly focused on the prohibitive, high price of insulin and prescription drugs and the importance of affordability and access for people with diabetes to increase productivity benefitting theirs and their families’ lives.
