Washington should make insulin more widely available at cheaper prices and offer a free 30-day supply at least once a year for people who are short on the drug and can’t afford it.
That’s the message delivered to state lawmakers from a workgroup assigned to chart a course to increase insulin access and affordability. Hundreds of thousands of Washington residents with diabetes depend on insulin every day.
To lower costs, members recommend a long-term strategy for the state to expand a drug rebate program and contract directly with manufacturers to sell insulin at lower prices.
In the short term, they want Washington to follow other states and require manufacturers to cover the cost of a 30-day supply of insulin for people who need it urgently.