May 23rd 2024.
The Illinois legislature has taken a major step towards easing the financial burden on patients with asthma and other lung conditions by passing a bill that would cap the cost of prescription inhalers at $25 per month. This decision comes after years of outcry from individuals struggling to afford their inhalers, which can cost hundreds of dollars each month. Representative Laura Faver Dias, who sponsored the bill, spoke passionately about the issue during the floor debate, highlighting the fact that high out-of-pocket costs often lead patients to neglect their treatment plans and end up in the emergency room.
The bill was met with overwhelming support in the House, passing with a vote of 87-21 on Wednesday. It now awaits the governor's signature, and when asked about his plans to sign, a spokesperson for Governor J.B. Pritzker's office stated that he will carefully review the bill once it reaches his desk. Although some Republican lawmakers voiced opposition to the bill during the debate, there was no opposition from the insurance industry.
Representative William Hauter, a Republican from Morton, expressed concerns about the cost being shifted onto other members of insurance plans. However, the bill only applies to plans regulated by the state, not those regulated by the federal government. Despite this, the bill's advocates are celebrating its passage, recognizing the impact it will have on patients, particularly those from low-income communities of color who are disproportionately affected by asthma.
Erica Salem, senior director of strategy, programs, and policy at the Respiratory Health Association, which worked on the bill, believes that this legislation will be a game-changer. She explains that it will make inhalers much more affordable and save the state millions of dollars. For individuals like Mia Fritsch-Anderson, who was diagnosed with severe asthma at a young age, this bill could mean significant savings for her and her family, who currently spend around $6,000 a year on inhalers.
Fritsch-Anderson, who recently completed her freshman year at Illinois Institute of Technology, is a volunteer patient advocate with the Respiratory Health Association. She is grateful for the passing of this bill, saying that it will help many families afford these life-saving medications. Other states, such as Minnesota and New Jersey, have already passed similar legislation, and Representative Faver Dias hopes that more will follow suit.
This bill also comes after several major inhaler manufacturers pledged to cap out-of-pocket costs at $35 per month, starting in June and early next year. These pledges were made in response to a U.S. Senate committee's investigation into the high costs of inhalers in the country. If the governor does sign the bill, it will go into effect in January of 2026. The Chicago Tribune's Olivia Stevens contributed to this report, highlighting the importance of this decision for the health and financial well-being of individuals with lung conditions.
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