BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Congress enacted a law that earlier this year capped the cost of insulin for Medicare recipients at $35 a month.
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, says that should only be the start.
"There's a lot to be done," said Wild, who is in her third term. "It's staggering how slowly this has evolved."
While the Inflation Reduction Act limited out-of-pocket expenses for those enrolled in Medicare, legislation remains pending for caps on insulin costs for millions of others with private insurance.
A PBS39 program explores that and other issues associated with diabetes, which affects more than 35 million people in the United States.
Hosted by LehighValleyNews.com health and wellness reporter Brittany Sweeney, the hour-long program provides information on resources, tips on healthy eating and cooking, and tells the stories of folks as they manage their diabetes along with the costs associated with it.
Wild, who has proposed separate legislation aimed at reducing prescription drug costs for folks outside Medicare, says pharmaceutical lobbying has been a major roadblock in enabling the government to negotiate prices with drugmakers.
"There are two pharmaceutical lobbyists for every member of Congress if not more," Wild says. "An astronomical amount is spent by Big Pharma on lobbying efforts."
Other guests include:
- Dr. Robert Muscalus of Capital Blue Cross
- Christine Correy, a Type II diabetic
- Dr. Christopher Holliday of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Carmen Bell, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
- Maribel Tandazo, Greater Valley YMCA
- Jessica DeLuise, nutritionist
A Community Conversation: The Cost of Diabetes