Gov. Whitmer has signed an executive directive aimed at lowering costs, manufacturing insulin in Michigan. | Michigan.gov
Gov. Whitmer has signed an executive directive aimed at lowering costs, manufacturing insulin in Michigan. | Michigan.gov
The state is looking into methods of reducing insulation prices that could involve manufacturing its own supply.
According to a news release issued by the state government, there are 912,000 residents in the state with diabetes and the state is concerned for those who may not be capable of affording insulin.
“We applaud Gov. Whitmer’s recent executive directive that charts Michigan on a pioneering path to lower Insulin prices in Michigan,” Dominic Pallone, executive director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans, said in the release. “The governor’s call for state departments to be bold and innovative is refreshing and welcoming and we thank her for her leadership on this important consumer issue.”
Whitmer said the proposal was made possible by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle collaborating together to help diabetes patients.
"The American people pay ten times more for insulin than citizens of other comparable nations and costs have tripled over the last decade alone. I am confident that the Michigan departments I have tasked in this directive will take swift action to determine feasibility, and together, we will lower the cost of insulin, hold drug companies accountable, and save lives," said Whitmer.
The location of a manufacturing facility is still in the conceptual stage and would be desired because people with diabetes tend to pay twice as much for their medical costs.
“No Michigander should forgo life-saving medicine because they cannot afford to pay the price set by drug companies,” said Attorney General Dana Nessel. “Enough is enough. That is why my department took legal action in January to enforce the Michigan Consumer Protection Act against drug companies, like Eli Lilly. While drug companies profit off of people’s health, they also benefit from a current market in which they control the pricing. That is why I filed a bypass application to take our case directly to the Michigan Supreme Court to hear arguments for why the state’s consumer protection act has been wrongly interpreted for too long. My Consumer Protection Team is ready to devote its full resources to ensure that the proper entities are on the hook for egregious drug prices and Michigan consumers are protected.”
Alerts Sign-up