Morgan Griffith voted against a bill to cap many insulin costs at $35 a month

On March 31, 2022, the House of Representatives voted on the Affordable Insulin Now Act, a bill that sought to limit out-of-pocket insulin costs to $35 a month (or 25% of the negotiated price, whichever was lower) for insured patients, including many on Medicare and private insurance. The bill passed the House 232–193, despite Morgan Griffith’s “No” vote.

What Morgan Griffith’s “No” vote actually meant was that he opposed a federal policy that

would have limited what many diabetics paid at the pharmacy counter each month for insulin.

Put as plainly as possible, Morgan Griffith, our long-term CD9 Representative, “was OK with

diabetics in Southwest Virginia continuing to pay higher out-of-pocket costs for insulin”.

Why would Griffith vote against a bill which would reduce costs for SWVA diabetics?

Evidence suggests that Morgan Griffith has had a long-term campaign finance relationship with many pharmaceutical industry companies, including some who manufacture insulin. Public FEC (Federal Election Commission) records show the Political Action Committee associated with Eli Lilly and Company made contributions totaling around $37,000 to Morgan Griffith’s campaign starting in 2011, and continuing in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

One reason Griffith voted “No” might be because he has a documented relationship with a company that is one of the 3 largest insulin manufacturers in the US.

Pfizer, another pharmaceutical industry company (although not an insulin manufacturer), has

also supported Morgan Griffith with political contributions over the past 10 years, with around

$10,000 in contributions as reported in their corporate political contribution report. Also, public campaign finance records show campaign contributions to Morgan Griffith from many different pharmaceutical and healthcare-related companies over the years.

Another reason could be that, although Pfizer does not manufacture insulin, it does market

diabetes related products, and along with other companies, could potentially pressure

Morgan Griffith to cast votes in favor of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries overall.

Impact on CD9 Residents:

By accepting campaign money from major pharmaceutical and healthcare companies,

Morgan Griffith’s votes could potentially be swayed in favor of big companies, ignoring the

needs of CD9 residents to pay more for necessary medicines like insulin, when they are already struggling with higher costs for regular every week purchases like groceries, gasoline, and housing.

Read the full bill here: https://www.warnock.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Affordable-Insulin-Now-Act.pdf

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