MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is set to make a significant announcement in the state’s ongoing battle against three major insulin manufacturers. The state, along with several others, filed a lawsuit in 2018 accusing the pharmaceutical companies of overcharging for insulin. Joining Ellison for the announcement will be Nicole Smith-Holt, whose son died in 2017 after being forced to ration his insulin due to the high cost.
In response to her son’s tragic death, Minnesota passed the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act in 2020. This legislation limits the co-pay for a one-month insulin supply to $35 and offers a long-term program for a 90-day supply at $50. While lawmakers argue that this law has helped hundreds in the state, it has faced opposition. The three drug companies have sued Minnesota, alleging that the act violates the constitution by taking property from the companies without compensation.
The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that approximately 160,000 residents rely on insulin. This was the driving force behind the state’s decision to join the lawsuit in 2018, aiming to prevent misleading pricing practices by insulin manufacturers and to seek damages for Minnesota residents. Dr. Elizabeth Seaquist, an endocrinologist with the University of Minnesota’s Medical School, emphasized the critical importance of insulin by stating, “They have to have insulin to live. If they don’t get insulin on a daily basis, they will die.”
Despite the opposition, Ellison and Smith-Holt remain determined to fight for insulin affordability. They are expected to address the latest developments in the lawsuit at a press conference on Wednesday. As this story unfolds, stay tuned for updates.
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