WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Tina Smith (D-MN) pressed three major insulin manufacturers, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi, on increasing access to lower-cost insulin for Americans with diabetes. Earlier this year, the three manufacturers had announced that they would make some types of insulin available at $35 per month or less. This announcement followed the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which included a $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin for seniors, which Senators Hassan and Smith worked to pass into law.

However, the companies have not made it clear how patients can easily access the discounts and actually pay less for insulin at the pharmacy counter. “The 37 million Americans with diabetes – including the 7 million for whom insulin is a critical and life-sustaining drug – must not be blocked from accessing affordable insulin by Patient Assistance Programs that are replete with obstacles for patients,” wrote the Senators in a letter to Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novo Nordisk; David Ricks, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and Company; and Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi.

The Senators pointed to the example that “patients who seek to get $35 per month insulin may have to complete five to ten pages of documentation, in addition to a waiting period for approval or denial.”

In May, Hassan and Smith pressed the three manufacturers on this very issue but did not receive a concrete response on how they plan to address it. This letter follows up on the questioning and asks the manufacturers for their plans to ensure full access to affordable insulin.

Hassan is working to lower prescription drug costs for Americans. The most recent government funding bill, which is now law, included three bipartisan measures backed by Senator Hassan to increase access to generic and biosimilar medications. In addition, Senator Hassan led successful bipartisan efforts to help eliminate surprise medical billing, which has prevented at least 9 million surprise bills. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act included a number of key provisions that Senator Hassan pushed for to take on Big Pharma and address the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, including allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices – which will bring down the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and help drive down prices across the board.

Since coming to the Senate, Senator Smith has been focused on lowering the cost of prescription medications like insulin. This spring, Senator Smith reintroduced legislation that would hold insulin manufacturers accountable for excessive increases in the price of life-sustaining insulin. Additionally, the most recent government funding bill included more than half a dozen health care provisions led by Senator Smith that took important steps to lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand access to health care, and shore up supply chains while creating good-paying American jobs.