For too long in the United States, people have been forced to choose between paying bills or paying for medications, with costs that are almost four times more than those in other high-income countries. And when it comes to insulin, it’s a matter of life or death. Unfortunately, we know that 1 in 4 people reported having to ration insulin due to cost. Rationing leads to dangerous medical complications and has been the cause of countless deaths. For years, T1International and our advocates have been calling on both state and federal legislators to take action to address exorbitant drug prices.

American lives depend on real action. That’s why T1International USA endorses the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R.3). This bill accomplishes many things, though some of the highlights related to the work of T1International include:

• Lowering the price of insulin and other drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and extending lower prices to all Americans with public or private sector insurance
• Fining drug companies that try to walk away from negotiations or block access to medications and increasing those penalties

• Limiting annual out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries to no more than $2,000
• Penalizing drug companies that increase prices in Medicare Parts B and D faster than the rate of inflation to help end drug company price gouging
• Limiting the maximum price of drugs to the Average International Market Price (AIM) to stop companies from charging Americans more than other countries for the same negotiated drugs
• Reinvesting savings into innovation and the search for new cures and treatments at the National Institute of Health

T1International is a nonpartisan organization, and we will always support legislation that will help #insulin4all become a reality, regardless of political party. While this bill will help many people, it does have gaps. For example, it will not help those without insurance. However, we see H.R.3 as an important step in helping to change the landscape of the American healthcare system and holding the pharmaceutical industry accountable. T1International recognizes this as a good beginning, not the end of change. Our Charity Ambassador, Nicole Smith Holt, agrees that while H.R.3 is not the answer to the insulin price crisis, it will help a lot of people, and she supports T1International’s decision to endorse it.

T1International Ohio #insulin4all Chapter Leader, Caylan Fazio, is no stranger to the challenges of life with diabetes. Diagnosed in 2012, at the age of 15, Caylan has had a front seat to the steep climb in drug prices. She shared her thoughts about H.R.3, noting, “To me, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act means government officials are finally deciding to legislate protections for the American people against pharmaceutical price gouging for necessary medications like insulin. It’s one step, but it is in the right direction. We need someone bigger than us fighting for us.”

Our vision at T1International has always been a world where everyone with type 1 diabetes – no matter where they live – has everything they need to survive and achieve their dreams. Our mission is to support local communities by giving them the tools they need to stand up for their rights, and to make their voices heard so that access to insulin and diabetes supplies becomes a reality for all. We are glad that our community's voices have been heard regarding the outrageous cost of insulin, and we will continue to demand accountability from the insulin manufacturers until #insulin4all is a reality.