Republicans in the Minnesota Senate roll out their plan this morning to address the high cost of insulin, even as Democrats push for a state-run assistance program partially funded by fees on drug manufacturers. House Speaker, Democrat Melissa Hortman contends, “This is not a complex product to produce. It’s a life-saving product. People’s lives are dependent on being able to access affordable insulin, and so the pharmaceutical industry has a responsibility to participate.”
Republicans have said the end of the insulin price crunch is in sight after several large H-M-O’s took steps to limit out-of-pocket costs for their members. Hortman responds, “We have to look at the population that is not insured, and those who will not be using those insurance programs that have recently been announced.”
Hortman says, “We need Republicans and Democrats to come together on a solution before Governor Walz would call us into special session.” So far agreement has been elusive, after a tentative deal fell apart in the closing hours of the special legislative session in late May.