Republicans Remove Insulin Cost Caps From Democratic Package to Fight Inflation

By Christina

Republican senators voted Sunday against capping the price of insulin on the private market, removing it from Democrats' sweeping economic and climate package.

Democrats had tried to

, but the vote failed 57-43, with seven Republicans voting with them to keep the cap on the cost of insulin in the bill. of law, three less than necessary.

The measure was expected following the decision of the Senate MP, who earlier ruled that the insulin provision did not meet the chamber's strict budget rules.

Democrats need to meet those standards for the law, called the Inflation Reduction Act, to move forward without any Republican votes.

A woman holds her insulin kit in her hands in a file image. KEREM YUCEL / AFP via Getty Images

The legislation, however, still includes a $35 copay cap on the price of insulin for seniors with Medicare.

After the vote, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Democrat Ron Wyden, accused the Republicans of giving in to pressure from the pharmaceutical industry at the expense of citizens.

[Why is insulin still so expensive for diabetics in the United States?]

"Republicans just came out in favor of expensive insulin," Wyden said in a statement.

"After years of talking tough about taking on insulin manufacturers, Republicans have once again shriveled in the heat from Big Pharma."

“Fortunately, the $35 cap on the Medicare insulin copay remains in the bill, so seniors will find relief from high insulin costs.

I will continue to work to lower insulin costs for all Americans,” she added.

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Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy of Louisiana;

Susan Collins of Maine;

Josh Hawley of Missouri;

Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi;

and Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska joined Democrats on Sunday who voted to keep the insulin cap for private insurers.

Senators have been working over the weekend on votes on the amendments after the House advanced the bill on Saturday in a procedural vote of 51-50, with all Republicans opposing the motion to go ahead with the bill and Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tiebreaker vote.

Senate Democrats approved the law on Sunday, bringing long-stalled elements of President Joe Biden's agenda closer to reality, including

The package will then head to the House of Representatives, which is scheduled to pass it on Friday.