West Twin Cities

A bill that sets up a system for diabetics who can’t afford insulin to get it at a reduced cost cleared a joint Minnesota House and Senate conference committee.

The Alex Smith Insulin Affordability Act now heads to the House and Senate for a final vote. If approved, Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign it into law.

“In the most challenging of times this conference committee worked together, involved stakeholders, respected open meeting laws and got the job done,” Sen. Scott Jensen said in a release posted by the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus.

The bill was named after Alec Smith, a diabetic who in 2017 aged off his parents’ health insurance. When he tried to ration his insulin, he died.

“All Minnesotans will benefit from the passage of this ambitious bill designed to protect those who cannot access insulin,” Jensen said.

This legislative topic had seen much debate and little success until this session. The MinnPost said that Republicans wanted to use state money to run a program that required drug companies to provide insulin for free. A DFL proposal set large fees on drug companies.

Jensen’s bill uses patient assistant programs drugmakers Sanofi, Lilly and Novo Nordisk already use. If a pharmaceutical company failed to take part, the state would impose fines starting at $100,000 a month.

PhRMA, the trade group that represents the drug companies, called the bill unconstitutional for taking private property without compensation, the MinnPost said. Bill sponsors expect the companies to go along rather than risk the House bill that would impose $38 million in license fees to fund a state-run program.

Jensen said it was a privilege to carry the bill through the Senate. He called Senators Pratt, Benson, Rosen, and Gazelka amazing teammates.

“Most of all though, I want to extend thanks to Minnesotans across the state and all the advocates for their commitment to getting this important bill done,” Jensen said. “It will be a new day in Minnesota for diabetics and this legislation will serve as a springboard for more creative legislative ideas regarding other expensive, life-sustaining medications."