INDIANA — Starting today, patients with diabetes can now get certain types of insulin without a prescription in Indiana, joining 49 other states to allow the over-the-counter purchase.
Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 255 unanimously passed the state House and Senate during the 2020 legislative session. It lifted restrictions put in place in 2014 on the purchase of older types of human insulin, although federal requirements are still in place for the newer, stronger, lab-created types of the drug.
The law’s co-author Sen. Ron Grooms, R-Jeffersonville, said that no one should be using insulin without a diagnosis of diabetes and medical monitoring, but that the lifted restrictions could be a lifesaver for patients such as those who are older than 50 and use the older medication to manage their illness by taking it to counter diet, for instance.
Having the rule in place created a hurdle for some diabetics, he said.
“People would go without their insulin,” at times, he said, adding that in some cases, “they didn’t want to go to doctor to get a prescription.”
Insulin was previously available over the counter
in Indiana, but Grooms said restrictions were added several years ago in response to people who may have been abusing it during self-medication.
But many of the patients that were doing this have now been switched to the newer drugs, which require doctor approval. He estimated that about 5% of patients self-medicate — that is use the medication without monitoring.
“Such over-the-counter availability is not only critical for emergency situations, but it also significantly increases access for those who cannot afford a doctor’s office visit to get a prescription,” according to diaTribe Learn (www.diatribe. org), an online resource for those affected by diabetes.
“...People who are uninsured or underinsured, or who simply cannot afford a doctor’s visit to get a prescription, have been forced to travel out of state to purchase human insulins over the counter. Not only does this require access to transportation, but the time it takes to cross state lines is unrealistic in emergency situations. Moreover, these access barriers increase the likelihood of people rationing their insulin, often leading to costly complications and emergency room visits.”
Effective March 31, certain healthcare facilities will be required to make more information available to the public on services available and the costs.
Under Indiana Senate Bill 5, hospitals, outpatient centers and urgent care facilities must provide information on their websites including the services they provide and the weighted average charge negotiated for the service.
The facilities must also disclose the amount of commission or service fees paid to the insurance provider for negotiating the policy or contract.
© 2024 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.