Senators Hassan and Smith Urge Insulin Manufacturers to Fulfill their Commitment to Lowering Insulin Costs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Tina Smith (D-MN) pressed three major insulin manufacturers, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi, on increasing access to lower-cost insulin for Americans with diabetes. Earlier this year, the three manufacturers had announced that they would make some types of insulin available at $35 per month or less. This announcement followed the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which included a $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin for seniors, which Senators Hassan and Smith worked to pass into law.

However, the companies have not made it clear how patients can easily access the discounts and actually pay less for insulin at the pharmacy counter. “The 37 million Americans with diabetes – including the 7 million for whom insulin is a critical and life-sustaining drug – must not be blocked from accessing affordable insulin by Patient Assistance Programs that are replete with obstacles for patients,” wrote the Senators in a letter to Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novo Nordisk; David Ricks, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and Company; and Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi.

The Senators pointed to the example that “patients who seek to get $35 per month insulin may have to complete five to ten pages of documentation, in addition to a waiting period for approval or denial.”

In May, Senators Hassan and Smith pressed the three manufacturers on this very issue but did not receive a concrete response on how they plan to address it. This letter follows up on the questioning and asks the manufacturers for their plans to ensure full access to affordable insulin.

Senator Hassan is working to lower prescription drug costs for Americans. The most recent government funding bill, which is now law, included three bipartisan measures backed by Senator Hassan to increase access to generic and biosimilar medications. In addition, Senator Hassan led successful bipartisan efforts to help eliminate surprise medical billing, which has prevented at least 9 million surprise bills. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act included a number of key provisions that Senator Hassan pushed for to take on Big Pharma and address the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, including allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices – which will bring down the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and help drive down prices across the board.

Since coming to the Senate, Senator Smith has been focused on lowering the cost of prescription medications like insulin. This spring, Senator Smith reintroduced legislation that would hold insulin manufacturers accountable for excessive increases in the price of life-sustaining insulin. Additionally, the most recent government funding bill included more than half a dozen health care provisions led by Senator Smith that took important steps to lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand access to health care, and shore up supply chains while creating good-paying American jobs.  

To read the Senators’ letter, see below or click here.

Mr. Ricks, Mr. Jørgensen, and Mr. Hudson:

We write to seek your commitment that all patients will have full access to your companies’ insulin without paying more than $35 a month out-of-pocket. Although Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly have lowered the cost of some insulin products for patients, these price reductions did not include newer insulins, and list prices remain high for many of your products. While you have stated that patients can participate in your Patient Assistance Programs to get insulin at or below $35 per month, you have a responsibility to ensure that patients can actually enroll in these programs. The 37 million Americans with diabetes – including the 7 million for whom insulin is a critical and life-sustaining drug – must not be blocked from accessing affordable insulin by Patient Assistance Programs that are replete with obstacles for patients.

Specifically, we are concerned that the Patient Assistance Programs used by your companies involve lengthy and technical application processes that significantly limit patient access to affordable insulin. For example, patients who seek to get $35 per month insulin may have to complete five to ten pages of documentation, in addition to a waiting period for approval or denial. We urge you to make specific commitments to streamline Patient Assistance Programs in order to maximize patient access to affordable insulin.

Your testimonies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on May 10, 2023 suggested that your companies do not have concrete plans to ensure that, through your Patient Assistance Programs, a $35 price is available for all patients needing insulin and for all insulin products. To help us understand your companies’ plans for ensuring full access to affordable insulin, please provide the following information by no later than September 15, 2023:

• Provide a full copy of your Patient Assistance Program application, along with an enumeration of any steps that patients must take beyond completing and submitting the application to receive insulin that is $35 or less per month.

• Can any patient enroll in your Patient Assistance Program in order to access $35 per month insulin at the pharmacy counter, regardless of their insurance status or income?

• What personal information and documentation is required from patients before they can access $35 per month insulin?

• Are patients required to provide new documentation from a medical provider before they can access discounted insulin?

• Are internet access or computer literacy necessary for a patient to apply to your Patient Assistance Program?

• On average, after an individual has applied for your Patient Assistance Program, how long does it take for his or her application to be approved?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

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