北达科他州胰岛素自付上限每月25美元 全美29州已推类似限价
北达科他州去年通过立法，将州内监管的医疗保险计划中胰岛素的患者自付费用上限定为每月25美元，即使患者尚未达到高额免赔额，也只需按此标准付费。凯撒家庭基金会健康新闻11月13日报道，该州是全美29个已采取类似措施的州之一。
推动这项立法的共和党州参议员肖恩·克利里表示，胰岛素价格高企让许多糖尿病患者难以负担。牵头立法的民主党州参议员蒂姆·马瑟恩说，限价让患者不再被迫在买药和支付其他账单之间做选择。州众议员卡丽·麦克劳德是共和党人，也是一名糖尿病教育者，她与美国退休人员协会等团体共同支持了这项法案。
报道以希尔斯伯勒务农逾百年的克里茨伯格一家为例，讲述糖尿病家庭长期承受的药费压力。目前美国国会也在考虑全国性的胰岛素限价，北达科他州共和党联邦参议员凯文·克拉默是共同提案人之一。支持者认为，州一级的先行经验为联邦立法提供了参考。
North Dakota Caps Insulin Copays at $25 a Month as 29 States Adopt Similar Limits
North Dakota enacted legislation last year capping patients' out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $25 a month under state-regulated health insurance plans, even before patients meet a high deductible. KFF Health News reported on November 13 that North Dakota is one of 29 states that have adopted similar measures.
Republican state Senator Sean Cleary, who helped push the legislation, said high insulin prices have made the drug unaffordable for many people with diabetes. Democratic state Senator Tim Mathern, who led the effort, said the cap means patients no longer have to choose between buying medicine and paying other bills. State Representative Carrie McLeod, a Republican and a diabetes educator, supported the bill along with groups such as AARP.
The report featured the Kritzberger family of Hillsboro, who have farmed for more than a century, to illustrate the long-running medication costs facing families with diabetes. Congress is also considering a national insulin price cap, and North Dakota's Republican U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer is among the co-sponsors. Supporters say the states' experience provides a reference for federal legislation.
来源：凯撒家庭基金会健康
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：位于俾斯麦的北达科他州议会大厦。图：Quintin Soloviev／Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 4.0授权 / The North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck. Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story
