Democratic senators unveiled a bill Tuesday to lower the state’s cap on the out-of-pocket costs for insulin to $35. [Health News Illinois]

The plan by Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, would update a 2020 law that caps out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply for patients who have commercial insurance plans regulated by the state.

The bill would also task the Department of Public Health with establishing the framework for a program that would let participants buy insulin at a discounted, post-rebate price. 

The proposal would take effect January 2025.

The House approved a plan last week by Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, that also relates to lowering the cost of insulin to $35 for a 30-day supply. Murphy told reporters at a press conference in Springfield they intend to go forward with the Senate version.

She noted her plan to create a framework for a discount program removed opposition from stakeholders, as participants in the program can send rebates back to insulin makers to be reimbursed for the price of the medication.

“It’s vital we make insulin more accessible to the people who need it,” Murphy said. “It’s past time to put people’s health ahead of financial gain.”

About 1.3 million Illinoisans have insulin-dependent diabetes. Murphy said she plans to call her bill for a vote later this week.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America spokesperson Stami Williams called insulin prices “a prime example for what's wrong with the system.”

“Insurers and middlemen continue to take a greater share of the rebates and discounts from manufacturers, but they don’t pass those savings along to patients,” Williams said in a statement. “If you want to get to the root of the issue patients face at the pharmacy counter, we must address the role middlemen play in what patients are paying out-of-pocket for their medicines.”

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