Bill to extend $25 monthly insulin cap moves through committee debate; PERS pilot shows modest premium impact

Representative Austin Schauer presented House Bill 1114, described as the legislative follow-up to a PERS pilot program enacted under SB 2140. The bill would require a $25 per month cap on insulin and a $25 per month cap for diabetic supplies for insured members covered by the mandate if enacted into commercial markets. The bill seeks to continue coverage that the PERS pilot put in place and to extend protections — via the statutory mandate process — to fully insured commercial plans.

Why it matters: Testimony cited long-standing affordability issues for insulin and the public-health consequences when patients cannot afford medication. PERS data from the pilot were summarized for the committee and used to estimate near-term fiscal effects on the PERS health plan.

Key testimony and figures: - The PERS pilot set a $25 cap for insulin and $25 for diabetic supplies; committee testimony noted most diabetic supplies for PERS members cost less than $25 a month. - The PERS…