ST. PAUL (KMHL) – Senate Republicans moved a bill forward yesterday that would provide insulin assistance to patients who can’t afford it.
Sen. Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls) thinks they are actually close on an agreement with the house that could solve the problem, but he thinks politics is getting in the way.
“At the end of the day this has to be a non-political bill,” said Dahms. “This has to be a bill we get done and not try to use as an election issue.”
Republicans have been resistant to a call from Democrats to charge a fee to drug manufacturers to help pay for the program. Dahms says he doesn’t think that will be a difficult issue to get fixed.
He says there’s a real difference of opinion on the portion of the bill that deals with how emergency insulin is distributed.
“We’re looking to keep that as streamlined as possible for the benefit of the individual that needs to get the emergency insulin,” said Dahms.
He is hopeful after both chambers get their legislation pushed through that a conference committee will be able to work out the differences in the bill.
