On the recordMarch 31, 2022
You do realize what is going on here, and I am going to be a little sarcastic because I am frustrated. Insulin prices are outrageous. But why is it outrageous? The fact of the matter is our regulatory mechanic and our payment mechanic are the very things that broke this, and here you do a piece of legislation that will break it more. Please, I beg of the majority: Hire an economist. And I will walk you through some of the facts on it. So, Madam Speaker, you are doing a bill here where you are going to subsidize the dollar amount in the back, but you are still going to keep the regulatory mechanics the way they are in their archaic designs, and then you are going to be joyful that individuals will pay what, $35 a vial? At the same time we are subsidizing it billions and billions and billions of dollars. Does anyone have a subscription to an aggregator on healthcare policy on your side? You do realize, there is a co-op coming out of the ground right now that is going to be $50, $55 for a box of five. It is lower than your subsidized price. And this is their market price. If you were doing something good for society, you would actually be moving this covax to the top of the regulatory stack and say: We want them to get permitted and licensed as fast as possible because they are still a year plus away. But it is being built right now, and you are about to screw up the solution.…
