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Rep. Craig Secures Inclusion of Bipartisan Insulin Bill in National Defense Authorization Act

December 8, 2020

Earlier this year, Craig took to the House floor to urge Congressional Leadership to include the Insulin Affordability Data Collection Act in the NDAA

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced that her bipartisan bill to require an examination of the health and economic impacts of skyrocketing insulin prices passed the House of Representatives as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Senator Tina Smith introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The Insulin Affordability Data Collection Act will require the government to study and report the scope of the problems created for hardworking families by the rise in insulin costs, which have increased by more than 600% in recent years – oftentimes leading to patient rationing of the drug. More than 350,000 Minnesotans suffer from diabetes -- and the average patient in Minnesota pays between $1,200 and $20,000 per year on insulin.

"Every day, thousands of Minnesotans and millions of Americans struggle to obtain potentially life-saving doses of insulin due to the skyrocketing price of this and other critical prescription drugs," said U.S. Representative Angie Craig. "I am thrilled that we were able to secure the inclusion of this vital bill in the National Defense Authorization Act and remain optimistic that the information gleaned from this study will soon provide relief to families across the Second District who are in need of relief."

The NDAA, which sets policy and spending levels for the Department of Defense, has been passed into law for 59 consecutive years. The bill now awaits passage in the United States Senate before it goes to the President's desk for approval. Among other key provisions, this year's NDAA includes a pay raise for active duty members of the military, critical investments in cybersecurity and climate resilience, as well as a provision to rename military bases named after Confederate Generals. The bill also includes a provision to grant Department of Veterans Affairs benefits to tens of thousands of Vietnam War veterans believed to be suffering from bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinson's-like symptoms due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Insulin Affordability Data Collection Act, included as Section 10004 of the conference report, requires the HHS Secretary through the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) to conduct a study that examines the impact of the affordability of insulin on individuals who are insulin-dependent. Specifically, this study will investigate the impact of the affordability of insulin products on:

  • Adherence to insulin prescriptions
  • Rates of diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Downstream impacts of insulin adherence (e.g. rates of dialysis treatment and end-stage renal disease)
  • Spending by Medicare, Medicaid and other Federal health programs on acute care episodes that could be averted by adhering to an insulin prescription
  • Other factors, as appropriate

This bill would further separate instances of insulin affordability by an individual's insurance status. Under this legislation, ASPE would be required to submit this report to Congress within two years of enactment. The bill is supported by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and T1 International.