MEDIA ADVISORY
Senator Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) & Representative Nicholas Duran (D-Miami) will hold a press conference today at 12:15 pm in support of their legislation, SB 116 and HB 109, to cap co-pays for insulin at $100 a month. They will be joined by educators, patients, and advocates who would be directly helped by the legislation.
The press conference is being timed to coincide with Diabetes Advocacy Day at the Florida Capitol, ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14th.
All participants will be available for questions from the media upon completion of remarks.
Who: Senator Janet Cruz
Representative Nicholas Duran
Representative Joseph Casello
Otis W. Kirksey, Pharm.D., Certified Diabetes Educator
Meredith Rosser, Advocate Mother of a child with Diabetes
Emmabella Rudd, T1 International, FSU Student Advocate with Diabetes
Advocates from the American Diabetes Association
What: Press Conference on Legislation for Co-Pay Price Caps for Insulin
When: Wednesday, November 13th, 12:15pm
Where: The Capitol
4th Floor Rotunda
402 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee
Background
As of 2017, there were 2.4 million Floridians with diabetes. In 1996, the price of Humalog was $21 per vial. In 2017, the cost of the same drug skyrocketed to $278 per vial. The quantity of insulin required varies greatly between individuals, with some patients paying upwards of $900 a month. This legislation would set a reasonable cap on the price of a life-saving drug, expanding access to lower income Floridians and allowing patients to have budget certainty for their medication.
