Dear Neighbors,
All Minnesotans should have access to the medication they need to stay healthy. This year, my colleagues and I approved a bill that would allow people who are struggling to afford insulin and other life-saving medications to access a temporary supply. The Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act was named after a young man who died at the age of 26 because he was forced to ration his insulin. It had strong support from the public, but Senate Republicans refused to include the bill in the health and human services budget.
House DFLers kept working on the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act long after the session had concluded. Starting this summer, we’re hosting a series of community conversations to discuss insulin affordability with Minnesotans. If the skyrocketing cost of insulin has impacted you or someone in your family, we’d like to hear about your experience so we can find solutions that work for you.
The first community conversation will be held tomorrow, August 14 at the State Capitol. Alec’s mother Nicole Smith-Holt and other advocates for affordable insulin will join a bipartisan group of legislators for a roundtable discussion at 10:30 a.m. in Room 120. Please join us or watch the event live here.
Sincerely,
Sandra Masin
State Representative