House Passes Bill That Puts Price Cap On Insulin Copays

Health care advocates are celebrating the passage of House Bill 1019 this week. The bill supports affordable access to insulin for diabetes patients by instituting a price cap on insulin copays. 

Senator Carri Hicks co-authored the bipartisan bill.

“For individuals with diabetes obviously it’s a chronic illness. It’s not going away. Ultimately, being able to afford your medications to live is obviously an essential component, “Hicks said. “So, reducing that cost to a manageable amount for Oklahomans will have lifesaving consequences.”

Hicks said one vial of insulin costs about $300. Some people might need several vials per month. 

HB 1019 caps the cost of insulin at $30 every 30 days or $90 for a 90-day supply. 

The cap includes all types of insulin, which allows patients to access a higher quality insulin product for the same price.

Sometimes a higher quality insulin product leads to better outcomes for patients, according to Dr. Mary Zoe Baker, a diabetes specialist at Oklahoma University Harold Hamm Diabetes Center.

Baker said she expects patients to have more flexibility and higher quality options for insulin products.

Most insured diabetic patients will be paying less every month for insulin. But this cost cap only helps people who have insurance. For those who do not have insurance, the out-of-pocket cost of insulin continues to be a barrier to care. 

“This bill is only affecting 10% of Oklahomans that have diabetes. Which, once again, that’s awesome, we’re really excited about that. It’s helping out a lot of people, but there are still a ton of people that need help,” said Natalie Bayne, community outreach coordinator at Diabetes Solutions of Oklahoma. 

Bayne said the bill is a big step for insulin access for all diabetes patients, but that there is more work to do. 

According to the 2021 Legislative Diabetes Prevention Report, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in Oklahoma.