Democratic leaders say the Minnesota House will have an insulin assistance bill ready by the end of this month and are holding a series of hearings to get public input. Speaker Melissa Hortman says the funding mechanism “really has to include the pharmaceutical manufacturers, because the insulin affordability crisis is a manufactured crisis that is being impacted by the greed of pharmaceutical companies.”
Republicans respond moves by several H-M-O’s to limit out-of-pocket costs for members will ease the insulin price crunch. A deal fell apart in the closing hours of the special session in May and lawmakers have been trying to hammer out a new compromise.
The first hearing was Monday in Burnsville. Upcoming hearings: Richfield (9/19), Saint Cloud (9/21), Shorewood (9/23) and the State Capitol (9/26).