House Study Bill 50, a bill that would cap prescription insulin prices in Iowa, passed through an Iowa House subcommittee meeting.
The bill requires policies, contracts or plans providing for third-party payment or prepayment of health or medical expenses that provide coverage for prescription drugs.
The cost to a covered person would not exceed $100 for up to a 31-day supply of at least one type of each rapid-acting prescription insulin drugs, short-acting prescription insulin drugs, intermediate-acting prescription insulin drugs or long-acting prescription insulin drugs.
Cheney Yeast of Blank Children’s Hospital told the subcommittee that the hospital’s Compassion Fund has seen nearly double the requests it typically does in the last 10 months.
“We knew this was an issue before, times that by 100,” she said.
Republican Rep. Brooke Boden said it is an issue she heard about while knocking doors.
“So I am very supportive of trying to make sure Iowans have access to insulin,” she said.
Republican Rep. Tom Jeneary, who chaired the subcommittee, noted it is the same language of the bill that passed nearly unanimously a year ago.
“I’m in full support of it,” he said.
Democrat Rep. Liz Bennett did not attend the subcommittee in person.
