AARP ND fighting to lower Rx costs during first week of legislative session

On Thursday, January 9, the House Government and Veterans Affairs (GVA) Committee considered HB 1114, which would expand the cap on out-of-pocket expenses for insulin and related medical supplies to the private insurance market to $25/month. AARP North Dakota was in the room. Advocacy Director Janelle Moos presented testimony that noted:

• Eight in ten (82%) adults 50 and older describe prescription drugs as too expensive, according to AARP research.
• In North Dakota, the most vulnerable and underserved populations suffer from the highest rates of diabetes and have the poorest health outcomes.
• Based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, in 2022, 57,203 adults in North Dakota were living with diabetes and another 226,430 were prediabetic, including 48,560 (49%) that were 65 and older.
• From 2009 to 2019, the price of insulin tripled even though there’s been no change to the product.

The high cost of insulin puts lifesaving medications out of the reach of many North Dakotans. Some face an impossible choice: Do I pay for my food or for my insulin? As proposed under HB 1114, insulin caps could make life-essential drugs more affordable and accessible for many older adults. Throughout the legislative session, we’ll follow this bill’s progress and other bills addressing prescription drug costs. We’ll also track legislative action on our other priorities: fraud, affordable housing and property taxes.

You can help by taking action. Reach out to your legislator and encourage them to support lowering the out-of-pocket costs of insulin.

Join our volunteer Advocacy Team to stay informed, engaged and prepared to connect with legislators about the issues that matter most to North Dakotans age 50 and older! Learn more about our advocacy work and the actions needed to ensure everyone in North Dakota can thrive as they age at aarp.org/NDadvocacy.

HB 1114- House GVA 1.9.25.pdf
AARP_Rx Fact Sheet - Cap on Out of Pocket Expenses_09.2024.pptx