On Thursday, the Minnesota Senate passed the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act by a bipartisan vote. The bill, House File 3100, establishes an emergency assistance program for Minnesotans unable to afford the high costs of insulin.

“Over the past four years, Senate Republicans have actively looked for solutions that will lower the costs of insulin and other life-saving drugs,” Said Senator Hall (R-Burnsville). “In that span, we have made significant strives to lower the costs, including reforms for Prescription Benefit Managers and a law that will ban health insurance companies from profiting off of insulin. Minnesotans who depend on insulin should already have begun witnessing changes at the pharmacy, but today we accomplished even more to ensure that they are protected.”

The legislation creates an emergency insulin assistance program to provide access to insulin on an emergency basis, along with a patient assistance program to provide ongoing insulin access for eligible Minnesotans. The emergency program allows eligible individuals to receive up to three months of insulin from their pharmacy. The costs for both programs will be paid for by insulin manufacturers. Minnesotans seeking assistance under this program will be referred to a health plan that would provide them with insulin at little or no cost.

In 2019, legislation was signed into law requiring pharmacies to provide emergency access to insulin and other life-saving drugs if a prescription runs out, allowing pharmacists to fill 30-day supplies of insulin for patients. The legislature also passed a bill requiring Pharmacy Benefit Managers to communicate available manufacturer rebates and discounts to pharmacies, as well as prohibiting health plans for making a profit on the sale of insulin.

The legislation awaits action by a conference committee between the Senate and the House to work out differences in the bills passed by each body.