Foregoing a lofty press conference or accompanying media release Gov. Jim Pillen signed a bill package into law Tuesday which included a provision to make insulin more affordable in Nebraska.
Starting in the new year of 2024, the out-of-pocket costs for prescription insulin will be capped at $35 per month for insured individuals.
The law was originally introduced in a Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee hearing by Lincoln State Senator Eliot Bostar as LB 779. As the 108th Legislative session moved along, and the practice of “Christmas tree bill” packages became a prominent strategy for getting work done with limited time remaining in the session, LB 779 was added to Legislative Bill 92. This bill package passed final reading with an emergency clause on June 1st, 46-0. Pillen signed LB92 into law on Tuesday.
Nebraska is now among 23 other states, and the District of Columbia, who have passed legislation to cap insulin costs.
The issue of rising insulin costs/demand has become a topic of national interest in recent years… creating some surprise about the lack of press on the signing. Pillen’s silence on the matter could boil down to a time conflict with a recent trip to Washington to speak along side Nebraska officials at the unveiling of the Willa Cather bronze sculpture erected in the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday.