Senate Republicans strip $35 insulin cap for individuals with private insurance from Democratic-led climate and health bill

As part of the climate, health, and tax reconciliation bill, the Senate Republicans succeeded in removing a $35 monthly price cap for many patients.

Democrats wanted to have the provision apply to people with private insurance and Medicare patients.

While GOP lawmakers didn't challenge the portion applying to Medicare patients, they were able to strip the cap for those using private insurance.

The Senate parliamentarian, who is tasked with analyzing reconciliation bills to ensure that they meet strict procedural rules, ruled that the cap wasn't in line with guidelines.

Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the ranking member on the Budget committee, raised a point of order on the Insulin cap, arguing that it was in violation of the Congressional Budget Act and would need at least 60 votes in order to stay in the larger bill.

Seven Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in voting against the provision in the larger bill.

Republican senators who voted to keep the specific provision were Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, and John Kennedy of Louisiana.

The GOP-led move was blasted by the chairman of the finance committee.

He said in a statement that Republicans had just gone on the record in favor of expensiveinsulin. After years of tough talk, Republicans have once against wilted in the face of heat from big pharma.

The $35 copay cap forinsulin in Medicare remains in the bill so seniors will get relief from highinsulin costs. I will continue to work to bring down the cost of diabetes care in the United States.

Democrats, who control the evenly-divided Senate, are pursuing the party-line legislation through the reconciliation process, which will allow them to overcome a 60-vote filibuster for the larger bill.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, also known as the tax and climate bill, would allow a three-year extension of subsidies for individuals to buy health insurance through theAffordable Care Act, while also providing nearly $370 billion for climate and energy programs.