A grieving mother who became a political force made Minnesotans painfully aware of what can happen when prescription drugs are priced out of reach.
Nicole Smith-Holt's 26-year-old son Alec, who had diabetes, died in 2017 after he aged off his mother's health plan and began rationing the medication that kept him alive: insulin. Its cost increases have easily eclipsed inflation over the past decade. Alec managed a restaurant but couldn't afford a $1,300 refill.
Smith-Holt began a crusade to prevent another needless death, and in 2020 Minnesota passed a pioneering emergency insulin assistance program. But action is also needed on the federal level to help those elsewhere struggling with insulin costs. Fortunately, the Build Back Better bill (BBB) making its way through Congress is poised to deliver insulin cost relief, potentially limiting insurance out-of-pocket costs to $35 a month as well as launching other measures to slow drug price increases.
Passing this as a standalone measure would have been an achievement. What's remarkable is that this is just one of many noteworthy health care advances in the so-called "social infrastructure" legislation. If enacted, the BBB would deliver sensible improvements that build on the current system to make health insurance more affordable, bring down prescription drug costs and strengthen care. These reforms would especially benefit children, new mothers, the elderly, young retirees and rural families.
The sprawling legislation, which cleared the House about a week ago, includes investments in affordable housing, early childhood education and clean energy. Its fate remains uncertain because it still needs Senate approval, which could reshape the bill enough to necessitate sending it back to the House.
The legislation's costs: an estimated $2.2 trillion over 10 years. But the Congressional Budget Office determined that it would add far less — $160 billion — to the federal deficit. The "bill's tax cuts and package would be largely paid for with tax increases on high earners and corporations,'' the New York Times reported.
The BBB's health care advances are significant and merit their own spotlight. Smith-Holt has been tracking the insulin measure. In an interview, she said it is a step forward, but she's worried that it would leave those without insurance still struggling to afford insulin. "We still need that emergency assistance piece," she said, noting that Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith has previously introduced such legislation.
The bill's other health care components are important steps forward, too. They would:
