BISMARCK – A bill to lower the price of insulin drugs and supplies for more North Dakotans attracted passionate discussion at a Thursday hearing before the House Government and Veteran Affairs Committee.
House Bill 1114 would set out-of-pocket costs for a monthly supply of insulin at $25 for the North Dakota commercial insurance market. It would also institute a $25 monthly cap for medical supplies used to administer insulin.
The new caps would affect North Dakotans on individual, small group, and large group insurance plans within the fully insured market. The bill doesn’t apply to the self-insured market.
A group of advocates said the cap would be life-saving for people with diabetes, who depend on insulin to survive
Representatives of insurance companies testified against the bill, arguing that the cap would merely shift costs to other groups, like insurers and employers.
The fiscal note attached to House Bill 1114 estimates the cost to the state at about $834,000. The committee did not take immediate action on Thursday.
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