Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is “bringing attention about the devastating consequences of diabetes in Alabama and striving to make sure that everyone Alabamans have access to the life-saving benefits affordably available through insulin”. Senator Britt this week spoke about the issues at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Appropriations with experts in the field and with youth advocates for diabetes.

When he was questioning the Dr. Griffin Rogers, the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, Senator Britt pointed out the high prevalence of diabetes in the state of Alabama. About 568,000 people in Alabama approximately 13% of the population of Alabama who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Senator Britt is co-sponsoring two bipartisan bills that will help all residents of Alabama access insulin. It includes Affordable Insulin Now Act 2023which will set the price that insulin is available to all people, even those with no insurance with a price of $35 per thirty-day supply. The bill was proposed by U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.) as well as Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

In Alabama Direct medical expenses are estimated to be $4.2 billion per year for people being diagnosed as having diabetes.


“For many people, insulin is vital to their health over the long term and for survival. The people of Alabama shouldn’t be forced to make the difficult decision of whether to buy life-saving insulin or a basic necessity such as food because of its high price,” said Senator Britt. “Additionally these measures will to improve our health care system, by enhancing the access to insulin for diabetic residents of Alabama, while making sure they are healthy and aren’t forced to pay for more expensive treatments or extensive medical treatment later on. I’ll fight on for ensuring that each Alabamian regardless of zip code, is able to enjoy in the American Dream .”

The Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023 will:

  • You must have private plans for individuals or groups to cover every insulin dosage form (i.e. pen, vial) along with the type of insulin (i.e. rapid-acting(or pen), short-acting (or pen), intermediate-acting and long-acting) for a maximum of $35 per month.
  • Make it mandatory for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up a program for reimbursement to organizations that are eligible for reimbursement of expenses that are greater than $35 to provide a 30 day dose of insulin to patients who are not insured.
  • Fully paid by an offset that will be decided at the time of a vote at the table.

The complete version of Affordable Insulin Act for 2023 is accessible here..

In addition Senator Britt has been cosponsor for the Improved Needed Security for users of lifesaving insulin now (INSULIN) Act of 2023, which would comprehensively tackle the rising cost of insulin, dissolving obstacles to treatment and making it easier to millions of Americans. This bipartisan bill was proposed by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).

In the Insulin Act in 2023 will:

  1. Reduce the cost of out-of-pocket expenditures for people with diabetes by making sure that the individual and group market health plans do not have to pay any deductible and limit cost sharing to a maximum of 35 (or 25%) of the listed cost per month for at minimum one insulin of every type and dosage form.

    1. The pharmacy benefit management (PBMs) are prohibited from using utilization management tools, such as prior authorization and step therapy. Products that are capped out-of-pocket expenses.
  2. Mandate PBMs channel all rebates on insulin and other rebates from plan sponsors to the manufacturer and reduce incentive incentives in the market for insulin, which promote high prices on the list and aiding patients through the form of reduced prices.
  3. Promote biosimilar and generic competition to lower the cost for patients through:

    1. The creation of a new, faster FDA approval process for biologic drugs that do not have adequate biosimilar competition. This is similar to the current pathway for competitive generic therapies. This will speed up the process of removing regulatory hurdles hindering market entry for low-cost products.
    2. Ensure adequate supervision of the FDA’s (FDA) the citizen-led petition procedure, and facilitating the approval of biosimilar and generic medications;
    3. The ability of Medicare Part D insurance plans put biosimilar medicines on the formulary as soon as they are available following their introduction to the market similar to other generic drugs; and
    4. A report is required to Congress on the market dynamics that delay or limit competitive biosimilar insulin.

The entire text of the INSULIN Act is accessible here..

As per Axios, 84% of Americans favor putting 35-per-month limits on expenses for insulin that are out of pocket. In ensuring that insulin costs are affordable, the overall cost of treatment for patients will reduce as well as overall outcomes for health as more Americans are able to avoid complications such as kidney disease, heart disease, strokes, and other conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical costs and lost work and wages for people with diagnosed diabetes total $327 billion annually in addition to it is estimated that the American Diabetes Association has asserted that diabetics make up one-quarter of the $4 that is paid for healthcare across the U.S.