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Controversial take (though maybe not in this community):
If it's needed for survival, it should be free. No exceptions.
I would much prefer my taxes go toward making insulin to give away than bombs to give away.
I'd even, gasp, go so far as to say I'd happily give it away to citizens and illegal immigrants alike. Oh hell, everyone on the planet. No strings attached.
This is where my taxes should go. I can't stand the rhetoric that it's bad tax payers are footing the bill for those without insurance and those here illegally. That's what a society is supposed to do.
In fact, before this admin, we gave many medicines all over the world to developing nations.
Devil's advocate: Medi-CAL (California's Medicaid program, already known for being very permissive) will likely already cover it for the eligible, and should the $11 be used in aggregate to cover distribution and manufacturing for all of California's citizens, it would be a reasonable rate to keep the program self-sustaining.
Allotting an exception for the payment for those who may have difficulty seems like a reasonable way to cover any gaps while making sure it never runs into the red.
The funny thing is if memory serves right insulin once you get it going is exceptionally cheap to produce. Unironically the 11 bucks may very well be the gross cost of production and transport per batch, probably not wages though.
Well America voted against food being considered essential for survival...
Of course, but what California is doing is awesome, so why shit all over it?
We’ll see how many red-staters cross state lines to buy their evil, demonic $11 insulin.
Watch them take advantage of this while acting like “California is the worst state”
Millions, weekly.
As a Newsom hater, I have to admit this is a big win for everyone. While he's still very far from an actual solution to the country's root problems - you can vote for him (if that's an option), and then continue protesting and pushing for more reforms. I'm not quite as optimistic to believe this will happen, let alone succeed, but it's an idea.
Newsom can be shamed into doing the right thing. Trump/Vance/Miller will disappear the shamers. Completely different realities.
The most transphobic version of Newsom is a return to needing several doctors to write a letter saying you are trans. We're already seeing Trump denying the right to exist and forcing the next generation of trans kids into navigating black markets for T shots or forced to grow with the wrong hormones.
I don't want to go down the rabbit hole, but I'm wondering is this ia CA paying the difference on what would be price gouging, or CA actually controlling the process, to erase any opportunity for that price gouging. That latter would likely be permanent, the former would last only as long as the administration isn't seeking budget cuts.
They're partnering with a non-profit 501(c)(3) generic manufacturer that was set up by groups of hospitals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civica_Rx
Seems as legit as you're going to find in the US.
$11 per month, that's only about double what it costs in most of the world. Wait... Still $11 PER PEN
Wtf did it cost before!!??
As a former pharmacy worker in California, anywhere from $40 to $200, depending on the patient's insurance. There's a reason Eli Lily and other companies monitor the supply truck drivers and call the cops if they stop.
I fucking loathe Newsome - but this is hard to complain about
For comparison...
In Aus I'm paying ~$32 for 25 pens
We have it decent in Australia, but for the Americans reading on, the bar is so ridiculously low you can walk over it.
I hope one day Medicare can actually be universal, and not the private subsidy model we have currently.
I dunno about you, but finding bulk billing is a pain the arse now, and in certain areas it simply doesn't exist. Not to mention my premium mouth bones which aren't covered for some stupid reason.
I just wish we'd finally kill off private health. Private health is such a scam we only take out because we have a two tiered system and there's a tax discount.
I really don't like Australians talking about how good we have it, when it's kinda meh, and actively getting worse.
That all being said, yeah, the PBS is pretty good and I'm glad insulin is affordable.
Thank Christ we didn't get the Libs back (for American readers, that's the conservative party), we could do SO much better given how wealthy we are per person.
But, anyone who doesn't want to pay more in tax in order to get truly public healthcare doesn't know how to do maths. We could just pay what we pay in private health premiums already, in tax, and we'd probably get way better care per person (because profit is inherently inefficient).
Abolish private health.
Thanks for being accosted with my rant.
Hey look! A liberal doing some actual fucking liberalism for once. What a nice change of pace.
Newsom is all over the place. Sometimes his position is straight from the GOP playbook (criminalizing being homeless) and sometimes it is liberal like this. He is trying to be everything while preparing for a '28 presidential run.
US trying to do a single thing not-for-profit challenge (apparently possible).
I really wish Gavin Newsom would stop being transphobic so I could appreciate when he actually does good for people.
Is he actively, continuously transphobic, or was it just that time everyone talks about? One time is too many, but there are way worse folks for sure. I don't really follow Californian politics though
He just vetoed a bill that would have allowed trans people to legally stockpile a year’s worth of hormones. This happened during a time when Republicans are floating national HRT bans for trans people of any age. His excuse was that this would somehow raise healthcare costs… By paying for a year’s worth of medication that people are already on and are going to stay on for the next year. It is a flimsy excuse and he’s a POS for it.
He also vetoed a bill last year that would have expedited licensing for out of state doctors who moved to California if those doctors practice gender affirming health or mental health care as part of their practice. This is a big deal not only because it’s shitty, but because there’s an expected increase in trans patients after care is banned in other states.
Definitely a win! It's important to note what type of insulin this is, insulin glargine (a long acting insulin). For those who are already on Lantus or Toujeo it will definitely be a plus. Hopefully next they'll do short acting insulins (lispro and aspart)
It’s not clear in the article, but I think this insulin is actually being manufactured in the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civica_Rx
“Civica is growing U.S. generic drug manufacturing capabilities with a new 140,000 square-foot sterile injectable manufacturing facility in Petersburg, Virginia, representing a $124.5 million investment”
Born with immune system that destroys its own insulin producing cells -> forced to pay $11 a week (depends on person) for the rest of your life.
Better than the 100 or so private companies are asking.
I get what you are saying but it's still a step in the history of this:
Step 0: Die of diabetes as only option
Step 1: pay exorbitant pricing to NOT die of diabetes
Step 2: pay high but much more reasonable price to NOT die of diabetes
Step 3: ?????
I'm curious about the formula. My wife has jumped around a few different insulin companies and while they all had the same active ingredients, the inactive ingredients played a major part in her absorption.
We can't afford this, Argentina needs $40 billion so their leader can get a haircut that doesn't make him look like the manager of a rock band in the 70s.
Can't wait for the border checks for "illegal" insulin
