Rivera introduces legislation to further
reduce insulin cost sharing
Making Sense of the Census
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Nurses.
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The Census.
BRONX TIMES R BTR EPORTER, MAY 8-14, 2020 63
BY JASON COHEN
Diabetes is the leading
cause of mortality in the Bronx
and in 2019, data showed that
the borough had eight out of 10
community districts with the
highest rates.
One elected offi cial has seen
these horrifying numbers and
is trying to curb the statistics.
Senator Gustavo Rivera, chair
of the Senate Health Committee,
introduced a bill this week
as part of his Insulin for All
package. This legislation will
further reduce the cap on costsharing
for insulin from the
current $100 per type of insulin
per month to just $30 per
month.
This new measure builds
on the important step taken by
New York to enact a $100 cap on
each type of insulin per month
during the 2020-21 budget. Yet,
people with diabetes often rely
on two or three different types
of insulin, which could result
in a $200 to $300 out-of-pocket
monthly expense.
“The high cost of insulin
is putting the lives of diabetic
New Yorkers at risk, especially
of those who are fi nancially
strained,” Rivera said. “While
we took a very important fi rst
step during this year’s budget,
it is certainly not enough. This
bill, along with the rest of the
Insulin for All legislative package,
will make insulin more
affordable and accessible for
diabetic New Yorkers, while
moving New York State in the
right direction.”
This legislation caps insulin
copays and deductibles
to $30 per insulin per month,
which is more in line with
similar measures initiated by
several states across the country
to address insulin prices.
For example, Utah recently
adopted a $30 copay cap, while
states such as New Mexico, Virginia,
California and Connecticut
are all in various stages
of passing and adopting copay
caps ranging from $25 to $50
per insulin type.
According to the American
Diabetes Association, the
average cost of insulin tripled
in less than a decade and New
Yorkers with diabetes face
medical expenses approximately
2.3 times higher than
those who do not have diabetes.
Consequently, this has led
to patients rationing the small
amount of medication they can
afford.
However, complications
from rationing can result in
amputations, diabetic ketoacidosis
and even death. The cost
of insulin is not related to advances
or changes to the drug,
only to enhance profi t margins
in this country, despite drastically
lower prices in other
countries for the same products.
To further increase access
to affordable insulin to
diabetic New Yorkers who are
insured, underinsured and uninsured,
Rivera sponsors two
other bills under his Insulin
for All package:
6492A: Ensures access to
insulin for New Yorkers by creating
a drug assistance demonstration
program and allowing
for emergency refi lls of expired
prescriptions in certain cases.
7771: Creates an Emergency
Insulin Program so uninsured
or underinsured New Yorkers
can get analog insulins at certain
pharmacies when in need.
Karlynn Holland, chapter
leader of New York Insulin4all,
praised the senator.
“New York #insulin4all
applauds the work of Senator
Gustavo Rivera’s Offi ce to ensure
that insulin, a life-saving
and life-sustaining medication
that costs just dollars to make,
is affordable to every New York
state resident who needs it to
live during this exceptional
time,” Holland said.
Senator Rivera introduces legislation to further reduce insulin cost sharing
File photo
By Julie Menin, Director of NYC
Census 2020
Every day at 7:00 pm, New York
City comes together to show our
thanks to the health care workers
caring for our neighbors as we fight
COVID-19. And from May 6 to May 12,
people across the country will be celebrating
these frontline workers during
National Nurses Week.
And right after we take the time
to cheer our frontline workers, we
can also do our part to support them
for years to come by taking the 2020
Census.
The census is how NYC gets the
funding we need for our hospitals,
health care, emergency services,
schools, housing, senior centers, and
countless other public programs for
the next ten years. And when more of
us are counted, we get more funding.
So to keep frontline healthcare
workers fully resourced — not just
through the duration of this pandemic,
but for the next decade — every
New Yorker needs to be counted.
Luckily, it’s never been easier. You
can go online to my2020census.gov
or call 1-844-330-2020 right now and
answer 10 simple questions in just 5
minutes. Your information is 100%
confidential and protected by law.
Nurses and essential workers are
counting on us now more than ever to
fill out the census. As you get ready to
make some noise tonight, take a few
moments to give back by making sure
your household is counted.
Let’s clap for our nurses today and
fill out the census to support them
into tomorrow.
“Making Sense of the Census” is a
weekly column from Julie Menin, Director
of NYC Census 2020. Every week
we will be publishing pieces from Julie
and guest authors laying out the facts
and answering tough questions about
this year’s census. Fill out the census
now at my2020census.gov.
/my2020census.gov
/my2020census.gov