ICYMI: Senator Marshall Discusses Diabetes and Access to Affordable Insulin at HELP Committee Hearing

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) participated in a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on the diabetes epidemic in America and patients’ ability to access affordable insulin and other prescription drugs. During the hearing, Senator Marshall urged Committee leaders to prioritize advancing his bipartisan, bicameral legislation which stops industry middlemen from blocking patient access to insulin biosimilars and low-cost generic drugs.

You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks. 

The Delinking Revenue from Unfair Gouging (DRUG) Act (S. 1542) would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from charging pharmaceutical manufacturers administrative fees based on a percent of the list price of medicine. This perverse incentive enables PBMs to discriminate against generic or lower-price brand competitors, leaving patients and employers with higher cost choices. The Congressional Budget Office provided a preliminary estimate stating his legislation would save over $654 million.

Joining Senator Marshall in leading the DRUG Act is Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Mike Braun (R-IN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) introduced companion legislation last month.

Senator Marshall also briefly discussed improving nutrition through education, another top priority to reduce the diabetes and obesity crisis in America. More recently, he discussed several policies he is working on at the Milken Institute’s Future of Health Summit. During his fireside chat, he shared several bills to prioritize nutrition across all agencies at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and how he is working to beef up child nutrition programs in the upcoming Farm Bill. To learn more about Senator Marshall’s nutrition policies, please click HERE.