Republicans killed Democrats’ plan to cap the price of insulin at $35 per month during a ‘vote-a-rama’ as the Inflation Reduction Act, a democratic-led climate, health, and tax bill makes its way through the Senate, according to Insider.
The insulin cap would have applied to Medicare patients and individuals with private insurance.
However, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that the insulin cap did not comply with the budget reconciliation rules Democrats are using to pass the bill through the Senate with a simple majority vote.
Republican senator Lindsey Graham (S.C), the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, raised a point of order saying the cap violated the Congressional Budget Act, which governs what could be included in a reconciliation bill and therefore would need 60 votes to remain in the larger bill.
All 50 Democrats and seven Republicans joined in voting to keep the provision in the larger bill, but the final vote of 57-43 fell short by three votes. Republican senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska were the Republicans who supported the measure.
GOP lawmakers didn’t challenge the portion applying to Medicare patients, Insider noted. But, they were able to strip the cap for those using private insurance.
“Republicans have just gone on the record in favor of expensive insulin. After years of tough talk about taking on insulin makers, Republicans have once against wilted in the face of heat from Big Pharma,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the chairman of the Finance committee said in a statement. “Fortunately, the $35 insulin copay cap for insulin in Medicare remains in the bill, so seniors will get relief from high insulin costs. I will continue working to deliver lower insulin costs to all Americans.”
