Chair Maldonado and Committee Members, I am 63 years old and have lived with Type 2 diabetes for more than 26 years. I have also run peer support groups for women living with diabetes for more than 8 years. While I am grateful that Virginia has adopted a $50 monthly cap on insulin, I fully support this bill that would reduce the aggregate cap to $35 even for those who take multiple types of insulin. Many people take both a long-acting insulin and a short-acting (meal-time) insulin. I have heard horror stories about people who have rationed their insulin because they can't afford it and ended up in the emergency room with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition. I believe 24 states currently have a cap of less than $50. I also support limiting the aggregate cap on diabetes equipment and supplies to $35/month. As someone with Type 2, I have had to pay out-of-pocket for the best tool I've ever used in managing my diabetes - a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). CGMs are not covered by most insurance plans for people who have Type 2 unless they take insulin or, in some cases, multiple types of insulin. At one point, I was paying more than $2,000 for a 90-day supply of ONE of my meds, but thankfully, a generic is now available. I urge you to pass this bill to help lower the cost burden on the more than 800,000 Virginians who live with diabetes.

On behalf of the American Diabetes Association and the over 816,000 adult Virginians diagnosed with diabetes, and children in the Commonwealth living with diabetes - please accept the attached letter in support of HB 1214 - which improves access to life-saving insulin and the critically necessary diabetes equipment and supplies that help support effective diabetes management by those impacted. Thank you, Monica Billger State Government Affairs Director American Diabetes Association