Act as if lives are in the balance on insulin legislation

Getting to “yes” on most legislation is rarely simple.
But bills that assist in saving lives, such as HB 4078 and HB 4543, are critical to quickly making that happen.
State lawmakers returned to the Capitol more than a month ago and to date have allowed both these bills that provide for greater accessibility to insulin to remain in limbo.
HB 4543, which caps insulin copays at $25, has actually advanced through three committees, but has yet to come to the House floor.
Meanwhile, HB 4078, also designed to cap costs for life-saving insulin, has remained in the House Banking and Insurance Committee since Jan. 9.
We get the impression these bills are part of a two-pronged effort by the bills’ lead sponsors, the former a Republican and the latter a Democrat, to get one across the finish line.
For now, HB 4543, that would cap costs for insulin and provide certain insurance coverage mandates looks to have the best chance.
Our point is that one of these insulin bills needs to pass now before they get lost in the end-of-session chaos.
This legislation desperately needs to be taken up with a sense of urgency by lawmakers.
It’s estimated that over 240,000 West Virginian’s (15%) are diagnosed and living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and another 65,000 are undiagnosed.
Every West Virginian with type 1 diabetes and many with type 2 rely on daily doses of insulin to survive.
As the cost of insulin has soared — some insurance co-pays can exceed $600 — national resports indicate as many as 25% of diabetics underuse their medication.
Rationing insulin can result in nerve damage, diabetic comas, amputation, kidney damage and even death.
Both Colorado and Illinois have passed legislation that caps insurance co-pays for insulin at $100.
Last week, it appeared some delegates were reluctant to support a cap as low as $25.
Their concern did not appear to be as much for the burden this might place on pharmaceutical companies but on their response to this measure.
Which some feared might result in limiting the availability of insulin to those who need it.
Weighing the fear of what these pharmaceuticals might do to what they are already doing, we urge lawmakers to advance these bills immediately.
No one should die from rationing insulin. That legislators need to be told to act swiftly is shameful in itself. If lawmakers care a whit about having a healthy, productive session, they ought to heed the need for this legislation.
This is not just a measure to save diabetics thousands of dollars. Indeed, it’s designed to save their lives.
And leaving these proposals in limbo or with a “no” is unacceptable.