Gov. Jim Pillen approves insulin price cap in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Gov. Jim Pillen signed a bill Tuesday that makes insulin more affordable in Nebraska.

Starting on Jan. 1, the out-of-pocket cost of prescription insulin will be capped at $35 per month to those in state-regulated health plans.

The law was originally introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar in Legislative Bill 799.

But later in the session, the measure was added to Legislative Bill 92, which was signed by Pillen on Tuesday.

Nebraska joins 23 other states, along with the District of Columbia, that have enacted caps on insulin costs.

“More than 700,000 Nebraskans either have or are at risk for diabetes. So, we’re talking about a lot of people,” said Gary Dougherty, director of state government affairs with the American Diabetes Association.

From 2012 to 2021, insulin prices nearly doubled in the U.S.

Jina Ragland, AARP of Nebraska’s advocacy director, said that has forced patients to make tough decisions.

“That’s very concerning when they’re making a choice about whether they’re paying for the out-of-pocket cost of their insulin or their medications … or whether they’re having to choose not going to the grocery store and buying their basic necessities of food.”