California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the weekend announced that the state has secured a contract with CIVCA to make $30 insulin available to all who need it. He also announced that the state will start manufacturing Naloxone, an emergency medication used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Both initiatives fall under a state program called CalRx designed to bring down the price of prescription drug prices.
“People should not be forced to go into debt to get life saving prescriptions," Newsome said. "Through CalRx, Californians will have access to some of the most inexpensive insulin available, helping them save thousands each year."
The state said the agreement will help bring down the price of insulin by about 90 percent or between $2,000 and $4,000 annually, regardless of your insurance plan.
“To address the affordability crisis in California, we have to address the high cost of prescription drugs,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “The CalRx Biosimilar Insulin Initiative will benefit Californians who are today paying too much for a medication that we know is life saving and life altering.”
The state plan comes as a number of drug makers, including Sanofi, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, cut their insulin prices.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called on Congress to build on this momentum and pass a bill capping the cost of insulin at $20 per vial and extend price cuts to other drugs.
“It’s official. As a result of a strong grassroots movement Sanofi has become the third company to substantially lower the price of insulin,” Sanders tweeted on Friday. “We are making progress but more must be done. Americans must no longer pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs.”
