Governor Beshear signed a health care bill into law on Monday that caps the cost of insulin.
The Governor signed House Bill 95, which mandates that insulin not exceed $30 for a 30 day supply. That’s regardless of insulin type or monthly amount a person needs.
State representative Danny Bentley, a republican representing Boyd and Lee counties, says making insulin affordable will help save lives and prevent expensive medical procedures.
“It causes amputations, you know what the cost of an amputation is today? It's several thousands of dollars. Not only that, loss of sight, neuropathy," Bentley said. "And so it goes on and on that the cost on the medical side is much more than the cost we're going to have by helping people with insulin.”
Bentley says average yearly insulin costs can amount to thousands of dollars. The bill applies to state regulated health insurance plans. No legislators opposed the bill.
Beshear announced the signing of several additional health care bills as well. One bill allows the Kentucky Department of Insurance to remove barriers for substance use disorder and mental health services.
Another bill will make purchasing and obtaining Naloxone and syringes easier. Beshear says that measure is intended to help the state deal with the opioid crisis.
A third bill regulates insurance companies’ rates for live organ donors.
“In other words, it prevents an insurance company from raising rates or canceling coverage from someone who has done something like donate a kidney,” Beshear said.
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