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Report: Central Valley Residents Pay 21 Times More for Insulin than People in Australia

September 3, 2019

Harder Commissioned Report in Response to Concerns from Constituents with Diabetes

Modesto, CA – After meeting with local advocates for people with diabetes, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) released a report he had commissioned regarding the costs of insulin in the Central Valley compared with other developed countries. The report found that Central Valley residents who do not have insurance pay twenty-one times more for insulin than patients in Australia.

"The drug companies are taking people for a ride because they've been allowed to – it's time to get more options on the market and cut these outrageous costs," said Rep. Harder. "Insulin is not a luxury – it's a necessity for folks with diabetes to stay alive."

Some of the key findings of the report include:

  • Almost one in three Americans live with diabetes.
  • Over 43,000 people in Rep. Harder's district are uninsured.
  • At least one brand of insulin costs Central Valley residents without insurance twenty-one times more than what it costs folks in Australia.
  • Over 20,000 seniors on Medicare in Rep. Harder's district have diabetes.
  • Businesses in the Central Valley charge an average of $578 for a monthly supply of the Novolog Flexpen and Australians pay only $28.
  • The report indicates that businesses could charge as little as $7-11 per month and still make a profit.

The full report is available here.

In May, Rep. Harder voted in favor of the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. The bill is designed to cut red tape and cut down on shady drug industry practices which prevent generic drugs from reaching the market. The bill passed in the House of Representatives, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to bring the legislation up for a vote.

Issues:Health Care