Oregon Senate passes bill to cap insulin cost at $35
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Senate on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 1508, which caps the price of insulin at $35 and prevents Oregonians with chronic illnesses and disabilities, who are covered by Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan, from facing higher costs.
In recent years, the cost of insulin skyrocketed 55%. SB 1508 provides certainty and protection from the rising cost of insulin for Oregonians living on tight budgets, especially seniors, Sen. Deb Patterson (D - Salem) said in a news release.
The bill also stops the Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (P&T) from using Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY)-based formulas to determine coverage for Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan.
The QALY formula places a lower value on treatments that extend the lives of people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities, making it harder and more expensive for those individuals to get the care they need.
"No Oregonian should suffer because they can’t afford basic, life-saving medication," said Patterson. "No Oregonian should have to ration their medication or choose between paying for prescriptions or basic necessities like food or housing. SB 1508 works to make sure that every Oregonian, regardless of their health or disability status, gets the care they need."
SB 1508 is a key pillar of Senate Democrats’ Uniting Oregon Agenda, which aims to make all communities safer and healthier and lower rising costs for hard-working Oregonians. The bill now goes to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration.
