ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) – Minnesota House Democrats say for a second time they’ll pass an insulin assistance bill in the upcoming legislative session, as negotiations with Senate Republicans remain stalemated.
“The sticking point remains the as it was in May, of holding the pharmaceutical companies accountable,” said Gov. Tim Walz.
But Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) responds the Republican proposal has the state paying for emergency insulin as a short term “bridge” but manufacturers providing free insulin after that for those who can’t afford it.
“The governor and the house have gone to their political corners while we have been trying to depoliticize this issue to work for a solution that was fair for the manufacturers but really focus on the needs of the patient,” said Pratt.
Democrats object the G-O-P plan lets insulin manufacturers off-the-hook for a problem they created. Republicans respond Democrats are just trying to punish drug makers for political gain.
