Relief coming to millions who rely on the lifesaving drug insulin. Eli Lilly will cap the out-of-pocket cost of its insulin at $35 a month. It’s a move, experts say, could push other insulin makers in the U.S. to follow suit. “For most patients, this cost reduction strategy may not be enough, and many would argue that this should have been done sooner,” said Rita Parsiani, Pharm.D., the pharmacist in OHSU’s Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Center. Parsiani works directly with diabetes patients to manage their medications. “There are over 34 million Americans living with diabetes here in the United States. About 30% of those patients take insulin to manage their condition and many ration insulin, which can lead to several, severe, consequences for patients,” she said. In Oregon, about 364,447 people, 10.8% of the adult population, have diagnosed diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. An additional 93,000 people in the state have diabetes but don’t know it yet, greatly increasing their health risk. Insulin makers have faced pressure from members of congress and advocacy groups to lower the cost of the lifesaving medication. Insulin costs in the U.S. are notoriously high compared to other countries. The Rand Corporation, a public policy think tank, estimated that in 2018, the average list price for one vial of insulin in the U.S. was $98.70. The change, effective immediately, puts the company in line with a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act, which imposed a $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket insulin for seniors enrolled in Medicare. The American Diabetes Association also applauded the decision and encouraged other insulin manufacturers to lower costs. However, Parsiani said insulin is just one piece of the puzzle. “It's also really important to know that insulin is not the only thing that patients worry about being able to afford,” Parsiani said. “Almost all patients with diabetes worry about the cost of glucose monitoring and other diabetes related technology and how that may affect their working environment, whether they can hold a job or care for their families.” Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/KGWNews8 Watch the latest KGW newscast: https://www.kgw.com/watch Get the KGW app: https://kgw.com/appredirect