For the City Times

MADISON – This week, along with Senator Dave Hansen (D- Green Bay), Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D- Fitchburg), and Rep. Jill Billings (D- La Crosse), Rep. Katrina Shankland introduced legislation to cap the price of insulin at $100 per thirty day supply. 

In response, Rep. Shankland issued the following statement: 

“No one should have to choose between their insulin and paying for their groceries, utilities, or rent. I’m proud to work with my colleagues to introduce legislation to cap insulin costs, which is modeled after a Colorado law. 

“The patent for insulin was sold for just one dollar so that it was available to everyone who needed it. Since 2012, however, the price of insulin has more than doubled, with the list price for one vial of insulin at about $250. Today, one in four people with diabetes have said they’ve had to ration insulin because they can’t afford the skyrocketing costs. People have died from rationing insulin, and we should never accept this, but instead work to change it. 

“In a moral society, everyone has access to the prescriptions and medicine they need to live. That’s why I’m proud to work with my colleagues in addressing this issue and capping the price of insulin at $100 per month. It’s the right thing to do, and I hope this spurs a much-needed conversation in the legislature on how we can work together to rein in the rising costs of prescription drugs.”