Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was on-hand at the UBMD Pediatrics facility in Downtown Buffalo on Monday, as he doubled down on his push to reduce the substantially high cost of insulin for diabetics across Western New York and the country.
"The cost of insulin is just outrageous," Schumer said. "This little bottle costs $600, and the price is going up-and-up-and-up. You can imagine for so many people who have diabetes, the cost is just outrageous."
The price of insulin over the years has been rapidly increasing, with an average rise of 15-17% per-year since 2012. This has caused some Americans, 1-in-4 on average, to ration their supply of insulin, which potentially has life-threatening repercussions.
With that in mind, Schumer unveiled his Affordable Insulin Now Act with the intent to improve access to this life-saving medicine, while ensuring families will never be forced to ration their insulin to unreasonably high cost.
"Western New York families and all Americans need that relief now," Schumer said. "As we know, the drug is essential to survive if you have diabetes."
Schumer says he will call for a Senate vote in March to get the cost of insulin down from $200-$600 per-vial to a cap of just $35.
"Since 2002, insulin prices have increased from $35 per-vial to over $250 per-vial with no change in the formula or the process," said Emily Dickey, a diabetic herself. "In fact, the cost of making insulin has only increased 50% for the manufacturer, while the price to me has increased over 250%. As a Type 1 diabetic, insulin is the single-largest medical expense I incur annually."
Dickey is excited to see Senator Schumer's bill moving through the Senate approval process, and knows this will help bring down the price of one of the world's most expensive liquids. Luckily for Dickey's sake, she is covered by a high deductible plan with her insurance that allows for insulin to be more affordable. However, she knows that not everyone is so fortunate.
"Those people need to make difficult decisions on medicine versus food," Dickey said. "Decisions like this often result in emergency room visits and higher medical costs for medical interventions that could have been easily prevented."
"One-fourth of patients with diabetes report the cost of their medications is the greatest single barrier to controlling their blood sugar to the point that - it's not even just in adults - for children, many have to ration or even skip life-saving doses of insulin. Both of which can have tragic consequences," said Dr. Steven Lipshultz, A. Conger Goodyear Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UB’s Jacobs School of Medicine. "Families with diabetic children should not have to worry that they cannot afford to buy drugs that their children need to live.
"Many people with diabetes, particularly those with Type 1 diabetes, depend on insulin for their very lives, others for their quality of life. Thus, Senator Schumer's legislation is both timely and urgent. This legislation will cap the cost of insulin, and therefore reduce out-of-pocket costs for this drug resulting in better health and fewer medical complications."
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people could cross the border into Canada and obtain their monthly supply of insulin at a pharmacy, without a prescription for $25. Dickey says this migration to Canada for life-saving insulin should be appalling to all Americans.
"We can do better as a country. The proposed legislation is a step in the right direction," she said. "While some states have enacted insulin price caps already, this bill will provide a nationwide cap of $35 per-month, and, most importantly, impact Medicare and private insurers. Everyone here know someone who has been impacted by diabetes. As a call to action, please let your congressional representative and Senator know via email or phone call that you believe this life-saving legislation should be passed."
According to the CDC, the estimated percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes by county in Western New York looks like this:
- In Erie County, an estimated 9.4% of adults are diagnosed with diabetes.
- In Niagara County, an estimated 9.9% of adults are diagnosed with diabetes.
- In Cattaraugus County, an estimated 11.4% of adults are diagnosed with diabetes.
- In Chautauqua County, an estimated 10.1% of adults are diagnosed with diabetes.
Especially when it comes to the care of Type 1 diabetes among kids, the folks at the UBMD Pediatrics Center are re-thinking and improving how they treat diabetes through research.
"We at UBMD developed our integrated pediatric Diabetes Center. It is interesting to see that the families that are here, this is their house of hope, this is where they come. And this is the only comprehensive Pediatric Diabetes Care Center in Western New York," Dr. Lipshultz said. "As you know, that consists of some 15,000 square miles that run from Pennsylvania to Canada. ... This center is the primary source of care for more than 1,000 children with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
"Every day, our center offers hope to our patients and their families. We give them a reason to believe that their future will be brighter. My personal thanks to the vision, dedication and efforts of Senator Schumer for championing this legislation, which is so necessary to improve the health and well being of children with diabetes."
You can listen to the entire press conference below:
