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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL)

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RELEASE: Rep. Ecklund supportive of Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act; Minn. House expected to approve measure tonight

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

SAINT PAUL – This evening, the Minnesota House is expected to approve the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act. After the Republican-led Senate refused to include insulin affordability legislation in the final hours of the 2019 Legislative Session, House DFLers continued their efforts to provide affordable and emergency insulin to Minnesota’s diabetics, holding a series of town halls in communities across the state and bipartisan informational hearings during the legislative interim. This is a renewed version of Alec’s bill, updated through the events of the interim, advocate input, and bipartisan negotiations.

“High prescription drug prices are putting too many families in difficult situations, and I’m proud to support a solution like the Alec Smith Act which will help give people with diabetes some peace of mind,” said Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls). “This bill is the result of a great deal of work, with people who live with diabetes at the table contributing valuable input every step of the way. This legislation puts people ahead of pharmaceutical profits, and I’m proud to support it.”

The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act creates a statewide insulin assistance program to help Minnesotans who struggle to afford the insulin they desperately need. Compromises in the updated bill include the state bearing the responsibility of the program’s set-up costs, but the House version still maintains that the bulk of the costs be paid by insulin manufacturers, the top three of which control over 90 percent of the market and recorded $80 billion in revenue in the last 12 months.

The Senate’s companion bill, SF 3164, has yet to receive a hearing.