Texas Senate approves legislation to cap cost of insulin

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Senate has approved a bill to cap the cost of insulin copays at $25. The bill would reduce and cap the cost of insulin co-pays for each prescription per month for insured Texans on state-regulated health plans.

Sen. César Blanco joint authored the bipartisan bill Senate Bill 827 by Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham).

Nearly 3 million Texans, or 14% of the adult population, have diabetes. The price of insulin has gone up 1,000% over the past 25 years, with Texans frequently spending between $300 and $1,000 per month on insulin.

Borderland Dietician Araceli Trevino told ABC-7 that about 20% of El Pasoans have diabetes and many rely on insulin. Trevino said sometimes it can be so expensive patients will skip doses to make it last longer.

"Insulin is something that's a life - it impacts your life. It's not just something you can say I'll skip a dose and nothing is going to happen. No. There are severe consequences," Trevino said. "Also knowing the copay is less is going to bring down the stress level which also heavily impacts on blood sugars,"

The bill is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk to be signed.