The Diabetes Leadership Council, the diabetes and health care reform advocacy organization advancing patient first policies at the local, state, and federal levels, welcomes today’s announcement from Lilly Diabetes that people with diabetes will pay 40% less at the pharmacy for authorized generic insulin lispro beginning in 2022.
Diabetes effects 1/3 of Americans and is a growing epidemic. DLC continues to advocate for less talk, more action from policymakers who promised to keep their commitment to help the 122 million Americans with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Addressing insulin costs is a needed first step.
“Financial toxicity is a reality for most Americans living with chronic illness, and treatment and management for people living with diabetes is essential to long-term health. This decision will directly help uninsured and underinsured people with diabetes who otherwise face higher insulin prices driven by the broken rebate system,” said Stewart Perry, Board Chair of the Diabetes Leadership Council. “Insulin is a lifesaving, preventive medicine. We need to take every opportunity to raise awareness of lower-cost authorized generics, biosimilars assistance programs, and all available options to reduce insulin costs. Lilly’s decision will strengthen the nation’s public health safety net so that people living with diabetes have necessary options and won’t be forced to ration insulin needed to survive.”
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DLC is a 501(c)(3) patient advocacy organization comprised of individuals who combine their passion for advocacy with decades of diabetes experience and leadership to advance patients-first policies at the local, state and national levels. Our members – all former leaders of national diabetes organizations – engage policymakers, and public and private sector influencers to call attention to the diabetes epidemic and provide a voice for 34 million Americans living with the disease.
