Gov. Tim Walz says a bipartisan "framework" agreed upon to help prevent insulin rationing falls short, because lawmakers haven't agreed on how to pay for it.
"Now we have a group of folks standing in the way by protecting profits for the insulin manufacturers, rather than getting it done," he said. "I'm glad they've come together, but, as far as I know...they did not have a pay-for in there, which leaves us exactly where we were in May, with a commitment that this has to be done, but with no pay-for."
In a release, Sen. Matt Little of Lakeville says "we know it's not enough," but says the proposal would help those who meet financial requirements receive a 20-day supply to avoid the dangerous effects of rationing insulin. He says most DFL lawmakers prefer a manufacturer fee, while Republicans favor dipping into the health care access fund.
"It's not a deal because it doesn't pay for it," Walz said. "I'm glad they've been working together but I want to be very clear about this: my patience with insulin had been worn out. It is today. I'm glad to see they're working together, but this will be the same thing that happened with the opioid legislation, that you'll see folks stand up, grandstand a bit, say they want to fix it, and not come up to pay for it."
The proposal would allow statewide access to insulin for "emergency use" at "most" pharmacies. Some who meet medical and financial requirements, could receive a stop-gap additional two-month supply.
"It doesn’t bring down the outrageously high price of insulin or guarantee an affordable, permanent supply for everyone who needs it," Little said in the release. "And we know that but it will address the most dangerous situations, and hopefully give people the time they need to find more."
Little says the group including Sen. Melissa Wiklund (DFL), Sen. John Marty (DFL), Sen. Jim Abeler (R), Sen. Scott Jensen (R), Sen. Paul Anderson (R), Sen. Eric Pratt (R), Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL), Rep. Alice Mann (DFL), Rep. Michael Howard (DFL), Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL), and Rep. Rod Hamilton (R), was meeting privately without providing public comment to in order to find solutions to a "complex problem...without the pull of special interests or election concerns."
Quinn Nystrom, the Minnesota chapter leader for Insulin4All, said in a statement:
“We are grateful that our elected leaders from both parties are working together to do the right thing for Minnesotans in need of insulin. We trust that legislators on both sides of the aisle will put Minnesotans ahead of big pharma’s bottom line and require pharmaceutical companies to bear the cost of funding emergency access to insulin. The pharmaceutical companies that charge skyrocketing prices created this crisis and need to be held accountable. Every day that we delay taking action, Minnesotans who are struggling to afford insulin are at risk. We look forward to finally passing Alec’s bill and continuing to work on making insulin and other prescription drugs more affordable for Minnesotans.”