By Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Contributing Writer
November is National Diabetes Month. Across our country, more than 38.4 million Americans, including almost a million Michiganders, struggle with diagnosed diabetes. They will sit down for Thanksgiving feasts this year with family and friends while managing a chronic, often expensive illness. That’s why as governor, I’ve been working with Republicans and Democrats to lower the cost of medication and expand pharmaceutical oversight to ensure that every Michigander can afford to take care of themselves.
We know that diabetes is more prevalent among the Black community, with 12% of Black adults diagnosed with diabetes compared to just 7% of white adults. And as we all know, diabetes is expensive: according to the American Diabetes Association, in 2022, Americans spent $412.9 billion on health care related to treating diabetes. For so many Michiganders, diabetes it is more than just a health concern; it’s a monthly bill that drains your bank account. No Michigander should have to make an impossible decision between paying for medication or putting food on the table and a roof over their head.
That’s why we have been working hard to lower the cost of insulin and prescription drugs to save Michiganders money. I supported Attorney General Dana Nessel’s work to hold drug companies accountable for skyrocketing insulin prices. And I was grateful to President Biden for signing the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month for the 122,000 Michiganders on Medicare who use insulin. As a direct result of this cap, most major insulin manufacturers followed suit, lowering their own prices to $35. Our strategy to lower costs is paying off.
In 2022, I signed bipartisan legislation that regulates pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, and brings more transparency to our healthcare system. It prohibits PBMS from charging patients a higher co-pay than what the drug sells for, ensuring that pharmacies communicate openly with patients about all their options and keeping drug prices low.
I also signed bills protecting Michiganders against surprise medical billing and fostering more competitive health care pricing. Until late last year, when we signed a bill repealing it, Michigan was the only state in the nation that had an immunity shield for drug manufacturers—preventing residents, local, and state governments from suing pharmaceutical companies and distributors for injuries caused by their products.
Let’s keep working together to lower prescription drug costs, boost access to affordable health care, and ensure every Michigander can focus on what really matters this holiday season: giving thanks for our health, our loved ones, and the food on our tables.
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