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Downloaded from
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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- Come on!
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Come on!
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Ohh!
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Dada!
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Alec animal!
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Come on!
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Come on, Alec!
Good boy!
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Come on, Alec!
Whoa!
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That first
step is a doozy, isn't it?
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Alec!
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*mellow music
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Nicole interview,
take two, soft sticks.
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All right,
James interview,
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take one, soft sticks.
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I remember every single day.
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Birthdays...
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vacations...
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weekend trips.
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Watching him grow up as
a toddler to a young man,
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to a handsome six-foot
man, it was the best.
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He wasn't the oldest,
but he acted like the big
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brother to everybody.
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Every extent of the word
when you say "big brother,"
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that was Alec.
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- Now!
- Five...
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- Go!
- Four...
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- Three, two, one!
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I remember him always
being funny, laughing.
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Aw, come on.
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You're supposed to be asleep.
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I remember
Alec always had a hat on.
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Those were his two addictions:
sunglasses and baseball caps.
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I remember all of the
Fourth of July weekends.
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Fourth of July
was his favorite holiday ever.
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He could do
without the Christmas
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presents, just give him
fireworks. [laughs]
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Um...
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but...
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I have a hard
time remembering...
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things that happened...
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from the time his
body was found until
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the day of the funeral.
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*sparse piano music
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Were you
able to start the car?
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Yup.
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I think the car is started.
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Car is started.
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*sparse tense music
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Which building is
it that we're in?
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We're in the Cap--
we're in the main building?
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Okay.
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We made a pact that no other
family will go through the
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pain that we're going through.
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We're trying to make a change,
a difference in the system.
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I don't wanna see
anyone else suffer.
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I hear too many
names along with Alec.
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Enough is enough.
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So we have you, um,
on that side of the table.
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- Okay.
- Okay.
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Never, ever
pictured myself to be the type
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of person to be at the
Capitol fighting for something
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like this.
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I think it's a way for
me to funnel my grief into
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something positive.
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I think it's a way
to try to honor Alec.
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It's a way to...
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make some really positive
changes that are gonna affect
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millions of people.
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- Good morning.
- Good morning.
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- Hi, Jim Abeler.
- Nicole.
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- Nice to meet you.
- James.
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- Hey, James.
- Hi.
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Nice to meet you.
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We're here today to
discuss the issue,
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to hear stories from all
of these brave people,
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and to work together to
form solutions moving forward.
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Thank you.
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I'm scared; I'm scared
to turn 26 and get off my
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parents' insurance.
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And I don't know what's
gonna happen when that
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happens, and it's...
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all about future.
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This insulin pen that we
bought in the United States
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cost us 140 dollars.
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It would last us,
um, about a week.
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This is an insulin pen
that we bought in Taiwan.
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It cost us eight dollars.
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I mean, you could see;
these are-- they're called
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"NovoRapid"
instead of "NovoLog,"
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but they are exactly
the same thing.
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Without
insulin, I am dead,
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my little brother is dead,
and millions of other people
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are dead.
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Our next testifiers
are Nicole Smith-Holt
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and James Holt, Jr.,
and, uh, I believe, uh,
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James Holt, Jr. is
gonna, uh, start it off.
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I am Alec's father.
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Can you even imagine what
it was like to tell people
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that your son died at 26...
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because he struggled to afford
the one medicine created to
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save his life?
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In many cases, it is cheaper
to book a round-trip flight
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and a hotel to a foreign
country to purchase insulin
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than it is to buy
it here in the US.
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My son would still be
alive today if his treatment
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was affordable.
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Thank you.
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My name is Nicole,
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and I'm Alec's mom.
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I just need a second.
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But I'm here today to share
a very painful and personal
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account of the doth--
death of my son Alec.
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In 2015, Alec was just
turning 24 and was diagnosed
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with type 1 diabetes.
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This came to a surprise for
our family because we have no
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family history of this, and he
was always healthy and active.
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Alec handled his diabetes
well; he adjusted his diet,
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he handled his daily regimen,
he took responsibility of his
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life and for his treatments.
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While still under my
insurance, his bills at the
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pharmacy would range
between two and 300 dollars
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out-of-pocket per month.
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In May of 2017,
Alec turned 26.
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Alec was no longer
eligible to be covered
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under my health insurance.
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His salary was
approximately 40,000 dollars
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a year, and that's fairly
decent for the Midwest.
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But because of his salary, he
was not eligible for state or
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federal subsidy
through insurance,
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and he was left
with just two options:
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one, pay extremely high
premium and deductible...
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or go without insurance and
pay out-of-pocket at the
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pharmacy, and pray
nothing major happens.
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Alec made the difficult
decision to forgo insurance,
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but he did not have the money
that the pharmacist was
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charging him for
insulin and supplies:
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1300 dollars.
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That's a lot of money.
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On June 20th, 2017...
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the
last day I saw my son...
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he stopped by the
house with friends.
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He informed me that he would
be picking up his meds in the
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next day or two.
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We believe he felt he could
stretch out his remaining
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insulin until his
payday on June 30th.
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*sensitive ambient music
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He didn't
call and ask for help.
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Um...
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so he began
rationing what he had.
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June 27...
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Alec's girlfriend had
been trying to reach him
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with no success.
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She went to his apartment
to find out why he was not
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responding to calls or texts.
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His car was in the parking
lot, he was not answering his
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door, and she could hear
his phone ringing,
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and got worried.
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She found an unlocked window
and climbed in to find him
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down on his bedroom floor.
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Alec was pronounced
dead on the scene.
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He aged off of my
insurance June 1st.
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His body was found
on June 27th of 2017.
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You know, it
wasn't even a month.
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He could not
afford to stay alive.
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The cost of
prescription drugs in general
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and insulin
in particular--
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are very, very high.
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This problem has been quite
difficult to solve in the US.
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People have been
talking about it for years.
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Insulin was first discovered
in 1921 by Banting and Best.
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Banting and Best sold the
patent for insulin discovery
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for one dollar-- one Canadian
dollar-- because they felt
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that no one should
profit off this.
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In 1996, the
first analog insulin was sold
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for 21 dollars a vial.
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You come to 2019...
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it goes all the way up
to almost 300 dollars--
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over a 1,000 percent
price increase.
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Three companies--
Novo Nordisk, Sanofi,
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and Eli Lilly-- manufacture
the vast majority of insulin
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that's sold in the US.
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Every time one company
increases their price,
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the other one goes up
by the same amount--
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lockstep.
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And this has been
going on for, like, 20 years.
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Recent studies show that
insulin can be manufactured
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for as low as three to five
dollars for a one-month vial.
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Let's just play
with some math here.
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I mean, if it costs five
dollars to manufacture a vial
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of insulin, and it's priced
at 300 dollars per vial,
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that's over a
5,000 percent change.
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You could get that same vial
of insulin for around 10 to 15
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dollars in some countries.
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And so, in the United States,
we have to pay unreasonable
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amounts, and...
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that's killing people!
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When you have to hear this
over and over and over again,
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it's almost like you are...
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trying to beat down
a-- a brick wall
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with your bare hands to get
people to really understand this
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is real, this is today, and
we gotta change this system.
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I thought we were the only
family that was experiencing
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these type of things, um...
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the only ones that were
having issues with
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affordability of insulin.
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00:12:37,290 --> 00:12:39,592
And when I-- when
all this came to light,
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I was like, "Hell no!
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This has to stop."
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*dramatic ethereal music
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*tense ambient music
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I take
care of people with diabetes
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00:13:19,366 --> 00:13:22,836
every day, many of
whom are on insulin.
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00:13:23,170 --> 00:13:26,706
Diabetes is a disease
of elevated blood sugars.
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00:13:26,706 --> 00:13:30,243
The difference
between type 1 and type 2?
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00:13:30,243 --> 00:13:33,981
Type 2 diabetes is much more
common and prevalent in the
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00:13:33,981 --> 00:13:36,383
United States and
throughout the world.
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00:13:36,383 --> 00:13:39,887
It's more a disease of the
efficiency with which insulin
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works, so insulin is
produced but it does not work
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efficiently in
doing its job,
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and that's generally due
to that person's lifestyle.
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In type 1, it's an
autoimmune disease.
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Your body destroys the
beta cells of the pancreas,
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and the pancreas
ceases to produce insulin.
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00:14:02,542 --> 00:14:05,378
If you don't have diabetes,
your pancreas produces a
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00:14:05,378 --> 00:14:08,415
little bit of
insulin all the time.
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00:14:08,415 --> 00:14:12,385
Insulin's job is to get
glucose from the blood
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into the cell.
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When you eat,
your blood glucose,
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which is the blood
sugar, will go up,
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and your body will match
that with insulin so you don't
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overshoot and you
don't have low sugars.
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Without that insulin,
you will have serious
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medical consequences.
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00:14:29,269 --> 00:14:31,438
Your body will
start to shut down,
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00:14:31,438 --> 00:14:35,275
it can lead to a condition
called diabetic ketoacidosis.
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00:14:35,275 --> 00:14:38,912
Diabetic
ketoacidosis or DKA--
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00:14:38,912 --> 00:14:42,449
if your blood sugars are very
high and it's not treated,
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00:14:42,449 --> 00:14:45,285
it starts turning
into ketones,
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00:14:45,285 --> 00:14:49,289
and ketones will produce
acid in the blood.
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00:14:50,123 --> 00:14:53,593
The person who has type 1
diabetes will not survive
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00:14:53,593 --> 00:14:56,629
without taking insulin.
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00:14:56,629 --> 00:14:58,966
Along with testing
of blood sugars,
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00:14:58,966 --> 00:15:01,935
the insulin has to be
taken many times a day,
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00:15:01,935 --> 00:15:04,671
seven days a week,
365 days a year.
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00:15:04,671 --> 00:15:07,674
There's no break to that.
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I would actually die quicker
from not using insulin
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than I would from-- from thirst.
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00:15:15,448 --> 00:15:18,651
There's no way to prevent it
as far as we know at this
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00:15:18,651 --> 00:15:22,489
moment, and there's
no cure for it.
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*Come on, it's lovely weather
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00:15:39,806 --> 00:15:42,475
*For a sleigh ride
together with you ♪
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00:15:42,475 --> 00:15:44,644
I love Christmas music.
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00:15:44,644 --> 00:15:47,014
I'm the annoying friend that,
when it's Christmas in July,
256
00:15:47,014 --> 00:15:49,649
I listen
to Christmas music.
257
00:15:51,884 --> 00:15:53,120
I don't like this song!
258
00:15:57,724 --> 00:16:10,670
*mellow ambient music
259
00:16:10,670 --> 00:16:12,505
I was
diagnosed with type 1
260
00:16:12,505 --> 00:16:15,508
diabetes when I
was 19 months old.
261
00:16:16,509 --> 00:16:20,713
They almost lost me
when I was diagnosed.
262
00:16:20,913 --> 00:16:23,916
I went into a
coma for nine days.
263
00:16:24,251 --> 00:16:27,554
And Emma was seven years
old when she was diagnosed--
264
00:16:27,554 --> 00:16:29,389
seven and a half.
265
00:16:29,389 --> 00:16:30,990
And what do
you need insulin for?
266
00:16:30,990 --> 00:16:33,160
My diabetes.
267
00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,862
But why
are you doing a shot?
268
00:16:35,862 --> 00:16:38,698
'Cause my
pancreas doesn't work.
269
00:16:38,698 --> 00:16:40,867
I feel like almost
like my brain just stopped
270
00:16:40,867 --> 00:16:43,170
working, I was so consumed
with the fact that now
271
00:16:43,170 --> 00:16:46,139
my child has this disease.
272
00:16:46,139 --> 00:16:47,674
Cool.
273
00:16:47,674 --> 00:16:49,876
She wasn't shocked.
274
00:16:49,876 --> 00:16:51,844
She was laying in
the bed like...
275
00:16:51,844 --> 00:16:53,180
"Cool, now I'm closer to Mom!"
276
00:16:53,180 --> 00:16:55,182
And I was just like...
277
00:16:55,182 --> 00:16:57,084
"[sighs]."
278
00:16:58,017 --> 00:17:02,555
She had no idea what was
gonna happen after that.
279
00:17:02,555 --> 00:17:03,723
Yeah!
280
00:17:04,157 --> 00:17:05,392
Yeah!
281
00:17:05,892 --> 00:17:07,594
Yeah!
282
00:17:08,295 --> 00:17:11,598
So how long have
you had type 1 diabetes?
283
00:17:11,598 --> 00:17:12,832
Four years.
284
00:17:12,832 --> 00:17:14,734
And when you found out
that you had type 1 diabetes,
285
00:17:14,734 --> 00:17:17,070
how did you feel?
286
00:17:17,904 --> 00:17:20,039
Pretty scared.
287
00:17:20,039 --> 00:17:22,575
'Cause I kinda
didn't like needles.
288
00:17:24,744 --> 00:17:27,780
Type 1 brought
Emma and I closer.
289
00:17:28,115 --> 00:17:30,917
I mean, we're both
checking our blood sugar,
290
00:17:30,917 --> 00:17:33,620
we're counting carbs, we're...
291
00:17:33,620 --> 00:17:35,722
grabbing insulin
for one or the other,
292
00:17:35,722 --> 00:17:38,591
or doing her injections.
293
00:17:41,094 --> 00:17:43,763
Right before she
was diagnosed,
294
00:17:43,763 --> 00:17:46,899
I rationed insulin because
the copays were too expensive
295
00:17:46,899 --> 00:17:48,601
for me to pay.
296
00:17:48,601 --> 00:17:51,238
There was no
money to buy it and...
297
00:17:51,238 --> 00:17:53,973
I didn't know what else to do.
298
00:17:54,441 --> 00:17:57,910
And ended up going into
DKA and ended up in ICU for
299
00:17:57,910 --> 00:17:59,779
three days...
300
00:17:59,779 --> 00:18:02,782
which costs a lot of money.
301
00:18:10,657 --> 00:18:15,094
And then probably two years
after Emma was diagnosed,
302
00:18:15,094 --> 00:18:18,665
things started
getting a lot tougher.
303
00:18:18,665 --> 00:18:22,169
I was trying to manage
myself as a type-1 diabetic,
304
00:18:22,169 --> 00:18:24,837
my daughter as a
type-1 diabetic.
305
00:18:25,138 --> 00:18:27,140
I lost my job.
306
00:18:27,340 --> 00:18:30,109
And then we lost our home.
307
00:18:35,148 --> 00:18:37,950
When we didn't have
anywhere to go and couldn't
308
00:18:37,950 --> 00:18:42,155
get into the homeless shelter,
309
00:18:42,155 --> 00:18:45,658
we would come to
the Walmart parking lot
310
00:18:45,658 --> 00:18:47,994
and sleep in the car.
311
00:18:47,994 --> 00:18:50,163
I actually would back
into the parking space.
312
00:18:50,163 --> 00:18:53,666
That way, if
somebody tried to break in,
313
00:18:53,666 --> 00:18:55,635
I could take off in a
hurry and not have to try
314
00:18:55,635 --> 00:18:57,204
to back up.
315
00:18:57,204 --> 00:19:00,039
And how often
would you change spots?
316
00:19:00,540 --> 00:19:03,710
Every other day, usually.
317
00:19:03,710 --> 00:19:05,178
I was afraid if I
stayed in one spot,
318
00:19:05,178 --> 00:19:08,014
they'd tell me I wasn't allowed
to sleep on their property.
319
00:19:08,014 --> 00:19:10,683
And then I didn't
know where to go.
320
00:19:10,683 --> 00:19:20,993
*melancholy ambient music
321
00:19:22,895 --> 00:19:24,997
I've been
thinking about getting a job
322
00:19:24,997 --> 00:19:28,201
to help pay for insulin.
323
00:19:28,535 --> 00:19:32,339
Or at least help pay, like,
bills and stuff, because...
324
00:19:32,339 --> 00:19:34,006
if you're paying for
insulin and stuff,
325
00:19:34,006 --> 00:19:37,877
you can't-- it's
hard to pay for...
326
00:19:37,877 --> 00:19:41,214
rent and all of that stuff.
327
00:19:42,915 --> 00:19:45,017
I want
my kid to be a kid.
328
00:19:45,017 --> 00:19:46,586
I don't want her
to worry about it,
329
00:19:46,586 --> 00:19:49,021
and sometimes, I
look at her and I'm like,
330
00:19:49,021 --> 00:19:50,757
"You're not 17, you're 11.
331
00:19:50,757 --> 00:19:53,059
Like, let's...
332
00:19:53,059 --> 00:19:55,228
knock it down a little bit."
333
00:20:04,937 --> 00:20:10,743
It's kinda depressing to see
diabetes supplies for a month.
334
00:20:11,244 --> 00:20:15,748
Just what's on the
table, out-of-pocket,
335
00:20:15,748 --> 00:20:18,084
you're looking at
a couple thousand.
336
00:20:18,585 --> 00:20:20,887
It's a lot of money,
it's a lot of pokes,
337
00:20:20,887 --> 00:20:23,222
it's a lot of trash,
338
00:20:23,222 --> 00:20:26,959
it's a lot of a lot
of different things.
339
00:20:29,296 --> 00:20:31,831
It's very exhausting.
340
00:20:32,332 --> 00:20:36,269
I don't think people realize
how tiring diabetes is,
341
00:20:36,269 --> 00:20:39,238
or even how tiring it
is to treat somebody that
342
00:20:39,238 --> 00:20:41,240
has diabetes.
343
00:20:42,809 --> 00:20:44,944
We just have
to find a way to
344
00:20:44,944 --> 00:20:47,246
continue to pay
for everything.
345
00:20:48,448 --> 00:20:50,650
Patients over profits!
346
00:20:50,650 --> 00:20:53,953
Patients over profits!
347
00:20:53,953 --> 00:20:57,957
You can't hide!
Your drug prices are homicide!
348
00:20:57,957 --> 00:20:59,826
They say that
the high prices for drugs
349
00:20:59,826 --> 00:21:01,328
are just unethical.
350
00:21:01,328 --> 00:21:03,296
And that
sparked a weekend protest.
351
00:21:03,296 --> 00:21:05,998
Those rallying are
also calling on lawmakers to
352
00:21:05,998 --> 00:21:07,266
pass legislation.
353
00:21:07,266 --> 00:21:08,801
When patients are dying,
354
00:21:08,801 --> 00:21:10,303
your greed is lying!
355
00:21:10,303 --> 00:21:12,805
When an inflated
price is set for a life-saving
356
00:21:12,805 --> 00:21:15,942
medication, someone is making
a decision about who is worthy
357
00:21:15,942 --> 00:21:17,344
of healthcare.
358
00:21:17,344 --> 00:21:20,146
Kayla Davis had to wait
for her doctor's office
359
00:21:20,146 --> 00:21:22,148
to submit the
forms necessary
360
00:21:22,148 --> 00:21:24,016
to get it covered
by Medicaid.
361
00:21:24,016 --> 00:21:28,154
She rationed the insulin
she had left as she waited.
362
00:21:28,154 --> 00:21:31,724
Kayla died because she
could not afford her insulin.
363
00:21:31,724 --> 00:21:35,161
We call on the
three-legged monopoly
364
00:21:35,161 --> 00:21:39,999
to cease and desist killing
our fellow diabetics!
365
00:21:39,999 --> 00:21:42,168
Patients I took care of
myself coming in with diabetic
366
00:21:42,168 --> 00:21:45,338
ketoacidosis
at death's door...
367
00:21:45,338 --> 00:21:47,907
because they
couldn't buy their insulin.
368
00:21:47,907 --> 00:21:51,010
Alec died because he
could not afford his insulin,
369
00:21:51,010 --> 00:21:54,013
and his blood
is on your hands.
370
00:21:54,013 --> 00:22:00,219
*dramatic music
371
00:22:20,773 --> 00:22:22,875
This is one of my favorites.
372
00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:39,526
Think about what a shame
it is that we've had to...
373
00:22:39,526 --> 00:22:42,194
to go to this extent
374
00:22:42,194 --> 00:22:44,531
to bring attention to an issue
375
00:22:44,531 --> 00:22:47,066
that shouldn't even exist.
376
00:22:47,066 --> 00:22:51,103
All these people have died
because they can't afford
377
00:22:51,103 --> 00:22:54,240
their medications that the
pharmaceutical companies
378
00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,410
are producing to
keep them alive.
379
00:22:57,744 --> 00:23:02,048
If you calculate it, it costs
up to 113,000 dollars a gallon
380
00:23:02,048 --> 00:23:04,283
for insulin.
381
00:23:04,617 --> 00:23:07,386
And it's grown; it's now the
fifth most expensive liquid in
382
00:23:07,386 --> 00:23:08,555
the world.
383
00:23:08,555 --> 00:23:09,922
Oh my gosh.
384
00:23:09,922 --> 00:23:11,558
Do you know
what the other ones are?
385
00:23:11,558 --> 00:23:14,226
Uh, it's Chanel No. 5...
386
00:23:14,226 --> 00:23:17,564
um, cobra venom...
387
00:23:17,564 --> 00:23:19,799
um...
388
00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:24,804
James, do you remember
what the other liquids are?
389
00:23:24,804 --> 00:23:26,405
I don't know.
390
00:23:26,405 --> 00:23:28,074
Yeah.
391
00:23:28,074 --> 00:23:33,580
*sparse piano music
392
00:23:33,580 --> 00:23:34,947
It's crazy.
393
00:23:46,826 --> 00:23:48,928
Oh, your legs
are gonna be cold!
394
00:23:59,972 --> 00:24:04,611
What exactly is
Alec's Insulin Act now?
395
00:24:04,611 --> 00:24:07,013
'Cause it's been worked
on and modified from the
396
00:24:07,013 --> 00:24:08,080
last time around.
397
00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:09,982
Yeah, it's
been modified a little bit.
398
00:24:09,982 --> 00:24:14,521
Right now, it would be that
if a type 1 in Minnesota finds
399
00:24:14,521 --> 00:24:17,490
themselves in a situation
where they cannot afford their
400
00:24:17,490 --> 00:24:21,494
insulin, that they would
just go to the pharmacist,
401
00:24:21,494 --> 00:24:24,997
fill out a form that verifies
they cannot afford their
402
00:24:24,997 --> 00:24:27,867
prescription, the
pharmacist would fill it,
403
00:24:27,867 --> 00:24:31,470
and then submit the bill
basically to the insulin
404
00:24:31,470 --> 00:24:34,306
manufacturing companies to pay.
405
00:24:34,306 --> 00:24:36,042
Okay.
406
00:24:36,042 --> 00:24:38,010
And of course, the
pharmaceutical companies are
407
00:24:38,010 --> 00:24:41,514
gonna fight us on this because
they're not gonna want to cover.
408
00:24:41,514 --> 00:24:42,782
So then
after this hearing then,
409
00:24:42,782 --> 00:24:44,884
do they make a decision based
off of that and then that's it?
410
00:24:44,884 --> 00:24:46,519
So they
will be voting today,
411
00:24:46,519 --> 00:24:50,523
and if it passes, then it would
go on to the Senate hearings,
412
00:24:50,523 --> 00:24:54,894
and then once it's approved by
each committee and House and
413
00:24:54,894 --> 00:24:57,029
Senate, then it would go
on to the Governor for his
414
00:24:57,029 --> 00:24:59,031
final signature.
415
00:25:01,367 --> 00:25:02,168
Hi, how are you?
416
00:25:02,168 --> 00:25:03,202
Good, how are you?
417
00:25:03,202 --> 00:25:04,303
Thanks so
much for being here.
418
00:25:04,303 --> 00:25:05,371
Yes,
thank you for doing this!
419
00:25:05,371 --> 00:25:07,306
- I so appreciate it!
- Yeah!
420
00:25:07,306 --> 00:25:08,440
Cristine, this is
my daughter Brittany.
421
00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:09,441
- Hi, my name's Brittany.
- Nice to meet you!
422
00:25:09,441 --> 00:25:10,142
And you guys got
the word out so, so amazingly.
423
00:25:10,142 --> 00:25:12,144
There are so many people here!
424
00:25:12,144 --> 00:25:13,379
- I've read all about you...
- h...
425
00:25:13,379 --> 00:25:15,047
And I've heard all
about you from Quinn.
426
00:25:15,047 --> 00:25:17,349
- Oh, yeah!
- I have a son with type 1 also.
427
00:25:17,349 --> 00:25:20,419
- Okay.
- I just...
428
00:25:20,753 --> 00:25:21,487
Thank you for everything
you're doing because--
429
00:25:21,487 --> 00:25:24,423
Yes!
Well, thank you guys too!
430
00:25:24,423 --> 00:25:26,058
Great, Senator
Little's office is here!
431
00:25:26,058 --> 00:25:29,195
- Welcome!
- Which is... us.
432
00:25:31,530 --> 00:25:34,066
I'm happy to be
here with you today.
433
00:25:34,066 --> 00:25:37,403
As you may know, insulin
prices are a little bit high.
434
00:25:37,403 --> 00:25:39,071
- So...
435
00:25:39,071 --> 00:25:39,972
- What?!
436
00:25:39,972 --> 00:25:42,441
Yeah, I
know, it's shocking.
437
00:25:42,441 --> 00:25:45,444
What really matters
today is we lower the price,
438
00:25:45,444 --> 00:25:49,248
but efforts are all trying to
be thwarted by these companies,
439
00:25:49,248 --> 00:25:54,220
and I just want to remind them
that they are the ones causing
440
00:25:54,220 --> 00:25:55,254
the problem!
441
00:25:55,254 --> 00:25:59,225
Pharma is in these
hallways seven days a week.
442
00:25:59,225 --> 00:26:00,126
Yeah.
443
00:26:00,126 --> 00:26:02,962
Influencing with
their money and their--
444
00:26:02,962 --> 00:26:04,597
- Yeah.
- You know, lunch dates.
445
00:26:04,597 --> 00:26:08,234
So you should know that we are
no longer meeting with any of
446
00:26:08,234 --> 00:26:09,401
these lobbyists.
447
00:26:09,401 --> 00:26:11,103
- At all.
448
00:26:16,275 --> 00:26:19,278
Senator, who's the
chair of the committee?
449
00:26:19,278 --> 00:26:21,080
Uh, Michelle
Benson is the main chair.
450
00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:22,248
Yeah?
451
00:26:22,248 --> 00:26:23,449
Do you have other
suggestions as to how we can
452
00:26:23,449 --> 00:26:25,985
influence Senator Benson?
453
00:26:25,985 --> 00:26:28,621
Will she hear from her
non-constituents if we show up
454
00:26:28,621 --> 00:26:29,756
at three o'clock?
455
00:26:29,756 --> 00:26:32,124
If, uh...
if you show up?
456
00:26:32,124 --> 00:26:33,059
Yeah, if I show up.
457
00:26:33,059 --> 00:26:34,293
I'll bet
you she listens to you.
458
00:26:34,293 --> 00:26:35,261
- Okay.
- Yeah.
459
00:26:37,296 --> 00:26:40,299
- You too, but her...
460
00:26:40,299 --> 00:26:45,004
- She scares me more.
461
00:26:45,004 --> 00:26:49,776
*sensitive ambient music
462
00:26:49,776 --> 00:26:51,343
Hey hey, ho ho!
463
00:26:51,343 --> 00:26:53,112
High drug prices got to go!
464
00:26:53,112 --> 00:26:55,147
Hey hey, ho ho!
465
00:26:55,147 --> 00:26:57,016
High drug prices got to go!
466
00:26:57,016 --> 00:26:58,651
Hey hey, ho ho!
467
00:26:58,651 --> 00:27:00,653
High drug prices got to go!
468
00:27:02,521 --> 00:27:05,324
I'm a family doctor, and
this morning at eight o'clock,
469
00:27:05,324 --> 00:27:08,060
I was seeing a patient
struggling to pay for insulin.
470
00:27:08,060 --> 00:27:11,330
People with diabetes cannot be
asked to ration things so that
471
00:27:11,330 --> 00:27:13,032
they can have their insulin!
472
00:27:13,032 --> 00:27:16,202
There are huge barriers in
our way to being healthy,
473
00:27:16,202 --> 00:27:18,137
and those barriers have
everything to do with the cost
474
00:27:18,137 --> 00:27:19,505
of our drugs!
475
00:27:19,505 --> 00:27:21,808
Actually, I've got the
secret to insulin pricing;
476
00:27:21,808 --> 00:27:24,176
- it's in the black box.
477
00:27:24,176 --> 00:27:25,812
We're trying to find a
way to look inside the box,
478
00:27:25,812 --> 00:27:28,180
and hey, I wonder
what's in the box!
479
00:27:28,180 --> 00:27:30,482
Oh! "Dear Congressman,
thank you for supporting us.
480
00:27:30,482 --> 00:27:31,684
Love, Pharma!"
481
00:27:31,684 --> 00:27:34,220
- Oh, that's in the black box!
482
00:27:34,220 --> 00:27:38,324
They spend 10s and 10s of
millions of dollars to make sure
483
00:27:38,324 --> 00:27:40,192
the box stays closed.
484
00:27:40,192 --> 00:27:42,161
It's time to open up the box.
485
00:27:44,563 --> 00:27:47,199
The prices have been
so ridiculously high,
486
00:27:47,199 --> 00:27:49,368
and they've been
increasing 'em year over year,
487
00:27:49,368 --> 00:27:52,071
and they don't seem to care.
488
00:27:52,071 --> 00:27:56,408
In fact, they find ways to blame
everybody else but themselves!
489
00:27:56,408 --> 00:27:59,345
And we absolutely need to
pass the Alec Smith Emergency
490
00:27:59,345 --> 00:28:00,512
Insulin Act.
491
00:28:02,715 --> 00:28:04,851
My name is Nicole.
492
00:28:04,851 --> 00:28:08,220
And I am here
today because in 2017,
493
00:28:08,220 --> 00:28:11,557
my son Alec Smith died
from rationing his insulin.
494
00:28:12,058 --> 00:28:14,560
Alec did not choose
to ration insulin,
495
00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:17,396
he was forced to do so because
he could not afford the price
496
00:28:17,396 --> 00:28:20,066
that was placed upon his life.
497
00:28:21,567 --> 00:28:24,737
To me, his life is priceless.
498
00:28:25,204 --> 00:28:28,107
But to Eli Lilly...
499
00:28:28,107 --> 00:28:30,242
Sanofi...
500
00:28:30,242 --> 00:28:32,578
Novo...
501
00:28:32,578 --> 00:28:36,248
his life was worth
1300 dollars a month.
502
00:28:40,319 --> 00:28:42,588
There are only two scenarios
that I can think of that could
503
00:28:42,588 --> 00:28:44,723
have saved my son's life,
504
00:28:44,723 --> 00:28:47,293
the first being
affordable insulin.
505
00:28:47,293 --> 00:28:51,764
The other option would
be a safety net--
506
00:28:51,764 --> 00:28:55,902
a safety net like the Alec Smith
Emergency Insulin Act.
507
00:28:55,902 --> 00:28:59,638
If this was in place in 2017,
I know that Alec--
508
00:28:59,638 --> 00:29:02,408
my baby, no matter
how old he was--
509
00:29:02,408 --> 00:29:04,610
would still be here.
510
00:29:04,610 --> 00:29:07,146
I believe that this
bill will save lives.
511
00:29:07,146 --> 00:29:10,449
I ask you to please vote yes.
512
00:29:10,783 --> 00:29:13,585
Thank you from
my entire family.
513
00:29:13,585 --> 00:29:14,921
Thank you.
514
00:29:14,921 --> 00:29:17,656
Moving on to public testimony.
515
00:29:18,157 --> 00:29:22,795
Yeah, so I-- we-- I've been a
part of a couple hearings now
516
00:29:22,795 --> 00:29:24,797
where we've heard
pharmacy-related bills,
517
00:29:24,797 --> 00:29:29,435
and each time, there has
been representation from the
518
00:29:29,435 --> 00:29:30,602
pharmaceutical lobby.
519
00:29:32,471 --> 00:29:34,673
Good afternoon, my name
is Christina Moorehead,
520
00:29:34,673 --> 00:29:36,809
and I'm a Senior Director
of State Policy for the
521
00:29:36,809 --> 00:29:39,278
Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers of America,
522
00:29:39,278 --> 00:29:40,512
or PHARMA.
523
00:29:40,512 --> 00:29:44,183
Each time, it feels sort of
removed-- or detached, rather.
524
00:29:44,183 --> 00:29:46,185
PHARMA represents the
country's leading innovative
525
00:29:46,185 --> 00:29:48,620
biopharmaceutical research
companies that have invested
526
00:29:48,620 --> 00:29:50,656
more than
600 billion dollars...
527
00:29:50,656 --> 00:29:52,658
The argument
from Big Pharma, uh,
528
00:29:52,658 --> 00:29:54,793
is to lead with
platitudes and say,
529
00:29:54,793 --> 00:29:56,662
"This is just not as simple,"
530
00:29:56,662 --> 00:29:58,330
and to point the finger
at somebody else.
531
00:29:58,330 --> 00:30:01,333
Health insurers-- and not
biopharmaceutical manufacturers
532
00:30:01,333 --> 00:30:02,434
determine the
price a patient pays...
533
00:30:02,434 --> 00:30:05,972
There's almost a coordinated
theater of these actors,
534
00:30:05,972 --> 00:30:09,508
where they will all
point to the other and say,
535
00:30:09,508 --> 00:30:11,343
"We're not responsible,
we're not accountable."
536
00:30:11,343 --> 00:30:13,379
Pharmacy benefit
managers, insurers,
537
00:30:13,379 --> 00:30:15,681
and hospitals are getting
billions of dollars every year
538
00:30:15,681 --> 00:30:17,984
from negotiated rebates
to pad their bottom lines to
539
00:30:17,984 --> 00:30:19,518
lower premiums...
540
00:30:19,518 --> 00:30:21,553
And that's what
needs to change.
541
00:30:23,022 --> 00:30:24,690
While this bill
is well intended,
542
00:30:24,690 --> 00:30:27,226
this legislation does not fully
address the issue that diabetic
543
00:30:27,226 --> 00:30:30,229
patients are facing in
affording healthcare.
544
00:30:30,229 --> 00:30:32,664
So I-- I'm trying to get
my head around all of this.
545
00:30:32,664 --> 00:30:36,002
What is the cost of a vial...
546
00:30:36,002 --> 00:30:38,670
to manufacture for insulin?
547
00:30:38,670 --> 00:30:39,671
Ms. Moorehead.
548
00:30:39,671 --> 00:30:41,707
Uh, Chairwoman and
members of the committee,
549
00:30:41,707 --> 00:30:45,244
um, I represent the trade
association and not a specific
550
00:30:45,244 --> 00:30:47,513
drug company, so those are
questions I don't have the
551
00:30:47,513 --> 00:30:49,248
information for.
552
00:30:49,248 --> 00:30:50,549
So I guess
I'm just asking,
553
00:30:50,549 --> 00:30:53,585
um, these questions--
and I-- I apologize,
554
00:30:53,585 --> 00:30:56,555
I thought you could answer some
of them-- but I don't know if
555
00:30:56,555 --> 00:30:59,258
you could direct me to who
can answer that question,
556
00:30:59,258 --> 00:31:00,927
but I guess I'd like to
know, at the end of the day,
557
00:31:00,927 --> 00:31:03,029
when there's only three
manufacturers and the market is
558
00:31:03,029 --> 00:31:06,398
cornered, and people's
lives are being affected,
559
00:31:06,398 --> 00:31:09,735
how do we ever get to the bottom
of it if it's nobody's fault?
560
00:31:09,735 --> 00:31:11,770
It just seems like we're going
nowhere 'cause nobody wants to
561
00:31:11,770 --> 00:31:14,606
take accountability
in anything.
562
00:31:14,974 --> 00:31:15,874
Thank you,
Representative Lislegard.
563
00:31:15,874 --> 00:31:18,410
Thank you, Ms.
Morehead, for coming back.
564
00:31:18,410 --> 00:31:21,280
Further discussion, Committee?
565
00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:24,050
Seeing none, Representative
Howard, we'll welcome you back
566
00:31:24,050 --> 00:31:26,418
for a last word.
567
00:31:26,418 --> 00:31:28,787
Minnesotans are dying.
568
00:31:28,787 --> 00:31:30,889
We weren't able to
save the life of Alec,
569
00:31:30,889 --> 00:31:33,059
but with your
support of this bill,
570
00:31:33,059 --> 00:31:35,727
Alec can save the
lives of Minnesotans,
571
00:31:35,727 --> 00:31:37,463
and I'd ask for your support.
572
00:31:37,463 --> 00:31:39,065
All those in favor, say "Aye."
573
00:31:39,065 --> 00:31:40,066
Aye.
574
00:31:40,066 --> 00:31:41,767
Any opposed?
575
00:31:41,767 --> 00:31:43,435
- The motion prevails.
576
00:31:43,435 --> 00:31:44,770
You are on your way.
577
00:31:44,770 --> 00:31:51,477
*uplifting music
578
00:31:51,477 --> 00:31:52,811
It was unanimous!
579
00:31:53,779 --> 00:31:55,081
I'm happy!
580
00:31:55,081 --> 00:31:56,782
- I'm very happy!
- Yeah!
581
00:31:58,517 --> 00:31:59,986
- Wow.
582
00:31:59,986 --> 00:32:04,623
Today was the big
first hurdle to deal with the
583
00:32:04,623 --> 00:32:07,493
affordability and
inaccessibility of insulin.
584
00:32:07,493 --> 00:32:10,829
We had the opportunity to
hear Alec's Bill and a number of
585
00:32:10,829 --> 00:32:13,099
other bills that
deal with this issue,
586
00:32:13,099 --> 00:32:15,968
and pass those bills.
587
00:32:15,968 --> 00:32:18,604
They will now move to another
committee and move through the
588
00:32:18,604 --> 00:32:21,340
legislative process.
589
00:32:21,340 --> 00:32:24,476
We have about two months to
move the bill forward and get it
590
00:32:24,476 --> 00:32:26,512
passed into law.
591
00:32:26,512 --> 00:32:27,613
Do you feel that
the bill will pass by the end
592
00:32:27,613 --> 00:32:29,982
of the session?
593
00:32:29,982 --> 00:32:32,784
Uh, I'm guardedly
optimistic that we can
594
00:32:32,784 --> 00:32:35,387
pass this bill this year.
595
00:32:35,387 --> 00:32:39,858
But I know that when you're
fighting big interests like Big
596
00:32:39,858 --> 00:32:42,961
Pharma, there
are no guarantees.
597
00:32:42,961 --> 00:32:50,002
*tense music
598
00:32:53,839 --> 00:32:56,008
Get one of these guys...
599
00:32:56,008 --> 00:32:57,743
I'm just gonna
bring all of that.
600
00:32:57,743 --> 00:33:00,646
I was diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes about two and a
601
00:33:00,646 --> 00:33:01,647
half months ago.
602
00:33:01,647 --> 00:33:03,149
Insulin.
603
00:33:03,149 --> 00:33:05,984
Literally
at the start of COVID.
604
00:33:05,984 --> 00:33:10,022
*mellow ethereal music
605
00:33:10,022 --> 00:33:12,024
I get to the hospital.
606
00:33:12,024 --> 00:33:14,160
The nurse came
and took my blood.
607
00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:18,030
It was really dark
and thick, like syrup.
608
00:33:18,864 --> 00:33:20,866
The doctor comes in.
609
00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:23,569
And he's like, "Well...
610
00:33:23,569 --> 00:33:25,904
you have type 1 diabetes."
611
00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:30,008
My God, I, like, blacked out.
612
00:33:30,008 --> 00:33:33,045
All right,
pull the insulin first.
613
00:33:33,045 --> 00:33:35,581
Inject into the cartridge.
614
00:33:35,581 --> 00:33:36,848
Run the insulin through.
615
00:33:36,848 --> 00:33:38,884
- Fuck.
616
00:33:40,219 --> 00:33:42,554
Then the insurance woman
comes in [chuckles]
617
00:33:42,554 --> 00:33:44,690
and basically, she's like,
618
00:33:44,690 --> 00:33:45,857
"You have 1 or 2?"
619
00:33:45,857 --> 00:33:47,059
And I was like, "1?"
620
00:33:47,059 --> 00:33:49,728
She goes, "Ugh, you
got the bad one."
621
00:33:49,728 --> 00:33:52,064
And
I'm like, "Okay."
622
00:33:52,064 --> 00:33:55,067
When I found all this out, I
literally had no insurance.
623
00:33:55,067 --> 00:34:00,072
I had a moment
where I freaked out, like...
624
00:34:00,606 --> 00:34:03,075
I don't know, um...
625
00:34:03,075 --> 00:34:07,579
"What if I can't
afford any of-- any of it?"
626
00:34:07,579 --> 00:34:12,584
*sparse curious music
627
00:34:12,584 --> 00:34:16,054
In the US, you really need
insurance to get healthcare
628
00:34:16,054 --> 00:34:18,490
access at an affordable cost.
629
00:34:18,490 --> 00:34:20,592
People around the world may
not be able to understand this
630
00:34:20,592 --> 00:34:21,793
that easily.
631
00:34:21,793 --> 00:34:24,596
In countries like in Europe,
where they have some kind of
632
00:34:24,596 --> 00:34:27,766
either centralized or universal
healthcare or single-payer,
633
00:34:27,766 --> 00:34:29,601
you could be covered completely.
634
00:34:29,601 --> 00:34:32,104
And so, for example,
when you get your insulin,
635
00:34:32,104 --> 00:34:36,475
you just go and either it's
free or it's a low copay.
636
00:34:36,808 --> 00:34:41,113
However, in the
US, most people get their health
637
00:34:41,113 --> 00:34:44,082
insurance through
their employers.
638
00:34:44,082 --> 00:34:47,085
But healthcare
costs are so expensive,
639
00:34:47,085 --> 00:34:49,788
even if you're fully insured,
640
00:34:49,788 --> 00:34:52,491
you have to worry about the
premiums that you're going to
641
00:34:52,491 --> 00:34:54,092
pay to get that insurance.
642
00:34:54,092 --> 00:34:56,495
You have to worry
about your copay.
643
00:34:56,495 --> 00:34:58,697
You have to worry
about the deductible,
644
00:34:58,697 --> 00:35:00,799
and spend several thousand
dollars before your insurance
645
00:35:00,799 --> 00:35:02,668
kicks in.
646
00:35:02,668 --> 00:35:06,538
So you could be in a position
where your job doesn't have good
647
00:35:06,538 --> 00:35:10,642
insurance, and you could
lose a lifetime savings due
648
00:35:10,642 --> 00:35:12,844
to one illness.
649
00:35:14,846 --> 00:35:16,648
Yeah, it makes you depressed.
650
00:35:19,351 --> 00:35:20,986
This video will
be helpful for you if you're
651
00:35:20,986 --> 00:35:22,821
already on an insulin pump.
652
00:35:22,821 --> 00:35:25,824
I'm gonna go through each
step in a lot of details.
653
00:35:25,824 --> 00:35:28,194
So first things first is I'm
gonna take out my old site and
654
00:35:28,194 --> 00:35:30,996
disconnect just so that I'm
completely disconnected for
655
00:35:30,996 --> 00:35:32,864
this process.
I don't want to--
656
00:35:34,166 --> 00:35:36,302
Always...
657
00:35:36,302 --> 00:35:39,671
pull the insulin first?
658
00:35:43,041 --> 00:35:45,177
So it tells
me to remove the cartridge and
659
00:35:45,177 --> 00:35:48,013
install a new one, so I'm
gonna remove the old one.
660
00:35:48,013 --> 00:35:50,015
So I just use
this little tag here.
661
00:35:50,015 --> 00:35:52,884
So you wanna hold it, like,
kind of on one side because the
662
00:35:52,884 --> 00:35:54,720
cartridge is coming
out the other side.
663
00:35:54,720 --> 00:35:55,821
Oh my God.
664
00:35:55,821 --> 00:35:57,155
Oh my God.
665
00:35:57,155 --> 00:35:58,857
What?
666
00:35:58,857 --> 00:36:00,158
- What?!
- I fucked up!
667
00:36:00,158 --> 00:36:02,027
Just gimme a
second to process!
668
00:36:02,027 --> 00:36:03,729
- Just hold on!
- I don't know, like--
669
00:36:03,729 --> 00:36:05,697
I know you don't
know, I just need a minute.
670
00:36:05,697 --> 00:36:07,866
- Just gimme a minute.
- Okay, okay.
671
00:36:14,105 --> 00:36:16,575
I'll pull it like that.
672
00:36:16,775 --> 00:36:20,246
Here, and I'm just
gonna give it a good...
673
00:36:20,546 --> 00:36:22,214
- See?
- That made more bubbles.
674
00:36:22,214 --> 00:36:24,082
I know, but it got the
bubble down from there.
675
00:36:24,082 --> 00:36:26,585
Now I'll push
those bubbles out.
676
00:36:27,753 --> 00:36:31,923
Last time you did it,
we wasted a lot of insulin.
677
00:36:31,923 --> 00:36:33,091
And this time,
it was just as--
678
00:36:33,091 --> 00:36:34,926
- No, that's als--
- You're not looking at what--
679
00:36:34,926 --> 00:36:35,861
You gotta let me finish.
680
00:36:35,861 --> 00:36:37,763
The costs are
gonna be long term.
681
00:36:37,763 --> 00:36:38,897
That's where I--
682
00:36:38,897 --> 00:36:40,366
For me, I'm not
gonna be concerned about cost,
683
00:36:40,366 --> 00:36:42,268
I'm concerned about my life.
684
00:36:42,268 --> 00:36:44,936
Learning all this stuff
and figuring all this shit out,
685
00:36:44,936 --> 00:36:46,905
I don't wanna
bring money into it!
686
00:36:46,905 --> 00:36:48,173
I don't wanna think about it!
687
00:36:48,173 --> 00:36:53,111
I'm choosing that as a strategic
way to keep my mental stability,
688
00:36:53,111 --> 00:36:55,046
and money does not
help me with that.
689
00:36:55,046 --> 00:36:56,382
That will come.
690
00:36:56,382 --> 00:36:58,617
Do you know what I mean?
691
00:36:58,617 --> 00:37:00,786
Yes, I understand why.
692
00:37:00,786 --> 00:37:03,255
But if you keep your head in
the sand on the financials,
693
00:37:03,255 --> 00:37:04,923
you're gonna end
up in that place.
694
00:37:04,923 --> 00:37:07,393
If this is your
biggest worry, do it.
695
00:37:07,393 --> 00:37:09,261
It's not my biggest worry.
696
00:37:09,261 --> 00:37:11,897
My biggest worry
is staying alive.
697
00:37:11,897 --> 00:37:21,072
*soft tense music
698
00:37:21,072 --> 00:37:24,976
Pens, vials...
699
00:37:25,644 --> 00:37:28,780
I probably have
about 150,000 dollars' worth of
700
00:37:28,780 --> 00:37:32,784
insulin, and probably...
701
00:37:33,785 --> 00:37:37,956
easily 100,000
dollars' worth of supplies.
702
00:37:39,157 --> 00:37:41,660
People hear about
me, get in touch,
703
00:37:41,660 --> 00:37:45,697
and they send me insulin
and diabetic supplies.
704
00:37:45,697 --> 00:37:47,299
And most of this
comes from people that
705
00:37:47,299 --> 00:37:49,301
- have passed away?
- Yeah.
706
00:37:51,303 --> 00:37:54,673
And people wanna help others.
707
00:37:54,673 --> 00:37:57,943
So I take it, and then get
it into the hands of those
708
00:37:57,943 --> 00:38:00,178
who need it.
709
00:38:00,679 --> 00:38:04,015
Every day, there's someone
posting on social media that is
710
00:38:04,015 --> 00:38:07,018
asking for some assistance.
711
00:38:07,519 --> 00:38:12,157
Insulin is not an option, and if
you are put in a position where
712
00:38:12,157 --> 00:38:16,328
you're gonna die if
you don't get access to insulin,
713
00:38:16,328 --> 00:38:18,864
you gotta do
whatever you gotta do.
714
00:38:21,032 --> 00:38:22,868
I have extra stock on hand,
715
00:38:22,868 --> 00:38:28,006
so I do insulin deliveries
one to four times a month.
716
00:38:28,006 --> 00:38:29,708
- I've got five pens.
- Great, five pens.
717
00:38:29,708 --> 00:38:31,009
- There you go!
- I can really use 'em!
718
00:38:31,009 --> 00:38:32,310
We
shouldn't have to do this,
719
00:38:32,310 --> 00:38:35,013
but this happens all the time.
720
00:38:36,515 --> 00:38:38,984
All right...
721
00:39:08,046 --> 00:39:10,882
You know, as
long as people are still having
722
00:39:10,882 --> 00:39:13,351
difficulty affording their insulin,
723
00:39:13,351 --> 00:39:16,221
I'll continue to fight.
724
00:39:24,229 --> 00:39:27,399
In my practice, my counseling
for patients with diabetes now
725
00:39:27,399 --> 00:39:29,200
includes a lot about how
expensive this condition is
726
00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:30,368
gonna be for them.
727
00:39:30,368 --> 00:39:32,904
If I have patients who are
traveling outside of the US,
728
00:39:32,904 --> 00:39:35,441
I do remind them about
opportunities to buy their
729
00:39:35,441 --> 00:39:38,944
insulin much more cheaply
outside of our country.
730
00:39:38,944 --> 00:39:41,112
It's really
disappointing, to be honest,
731
00:39:41,112 --> 00:39:44,950
to live in a country
with so much resources,
732
00:39:44,950 --> 00:39:48,554
and still, people are rationing
medicines and deciding that they
733
00:39:48,554 --> 00:39:51,089
have to leave.
734
00:39:51,089 --> 00:39:55,093
To be a medical refugee from the
United States going elsewhere,
735
00:39:55,093 --> 00:39:57,295
we, as Americans, need to look
at ourselves in the mirror and
736
00:39:57,295 --> 00:39:58,930
realize that that's happening,
737
00:39:58,930 --> 00:40:01,433
and that is what the
American Dream has become.
738
00:40:01,433 --> 00:40:06,972
*mellow ambient music
739
00:40:06,972 --> 00:40:11,076
For a while, I've
been planning to go to Canada
740
00:40:11,076 --> 00:40:13,111
to purchase insulin,
741
00:40:13,111 --> 00:40:16,314
but I didn't have money
to afford to get there.
742
00:40:18,149 --> 00:40:23,121
But we've been traveling to
Seattle to do diabetes research.
743
00:40:25,323 --> 00:40:30,128
The research department
does pay to fly us here.
744
00:40:30,128 --> 00:40:35,266
And it puts us a lot
closer to the Canadian border,
745
00:40:35,266 --> 00:40:37,469
which is great.
746
00:40:37,803 --> 00:40:40,338
But it's still not enough.
747
00:40:40,338 --> 00:40:41,840
Your checking account available
748
00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:43,108
balance is...
749
00:40:43,108 --> 00:40:46,311
3,505 dollars.
750
00:40:46,311 --> 00:40:49,314
Your balance includes two
recent direct deposits.
751
00:40:49,314 --> 00:40:51,950
But I
got my tax return.
752
00:40:51,950 --> 00:40:53,885
We're all set.
753
00:40:53,885 --> 00:40:55,854
And now, we're
going out of the country.
754
00:40:55,854 --> 00:40:59,457
Vancouver,
British Columbia, 64 miles.
755
00:41:05,997 --> 00:41:07,999
341.
756
00:41:07,999 --> 00:41:09,300
You need
to do a shot.
757
00:41:09,300 --> 00:41:10,636
Mm, can't.
758
00:41:10,636 --> 00:41:11,637
You can.
759
00:41:11,637 --> 00:41:13,872
No, I can't!
760
00:41:14,740 --> 00:41:17,375
I'll stab myself
like five times.
761
00:41:17,375 --> 00:41:20,879
Just go ahead and do it 'cause
there's no bumps for a while.
762
00:41:29,020 --> 00:41:31,056
I can't do it.
763
00:41:31,590 --> 00:41:35,493
There, I'm slowed way
down, so do your shot.
764
00:41:37,896 --> 00:41:40,198
I'm seriously gonna cry.
765
00:41:45,571 --> 00:41:47,205
Now!
766
00:41:53,244 --> 00:41:55,413
-
- Thank you.
767
00:42:03,388 --> 00:42:05,090
What do you want for a snack?
768
00:42:05,090 --> 00:42:06,892
Food.
769
00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:11,229
There's a lot of people
that are still under the
770
00:42:11,229 --> 00:42:14,132
misconception that...
771
00:42:14,132 --> 00:42:18,369
we can just lose weight or eat
healthy and we'll be fine,
772
00:42:18,369 --> 00:42:21,439
when that's not the case.
773
00:42:21,973 --> 00:42:26,411
Being type 1 diabetic, our body
doesn't produce insulin at all,
774
00:42:26,411 --> 00:42:30,716
no matter what we eat
or what our lifestyle is.
775
00:42:30,716 --> 00:42:40,558
*mellow ambient music
776
00:42:40,558 --> 00:42:42,227
There, Emma, look!
777
00:42:46,732 --> 00:42:48,566
- Ooh hoo!
- That is super pretty.
778
00:42:48,566 --> 00:42:50,301
Best...
779
00:42:50,301 --> 00:42:52,103
picture I can ever
take in the--
780
00:42:52,103 --> 00:42:54,105
- Did you get it?
- Ohh!
781
00:42:54,105 --> 00:42:56,107
Come on, cars, you
can move your butt.
782
00:42:56,107 --> 00:42:58,109
[laughs] Okay.
783
00:42:58,109 --> 00:43:00,946
Oh, that's it.
784
00:43:14,159 --> 00:43:16,161
You're doing it.
785
00:43:22,467 --> 00:43:24,302
Not well.
786
00:43:35,213 --> 00:43:39,184
Math is easy for me 'cause I
do a lot of math with my blood
787
00:43:39,184 --> 00:43:41,319
sugar stuff.
788
00:43:43,488 --> 00:43:45,791
So much math today.
789
00:43:45,791 --> 00:43:48,326
Before coffee.
790
00:43:50,528 --> 00:43:52,664
For insulin and
medical supplies,
791
00:43:52,664 --> 00:43:56,467
I'll be spending 514
dollars and 84 cents,
792
00:43:56,467 --> 00:44:01,339
whereas at home in the US, um,
793
00:44:01,339 --> 00:44:06,044
it's 2,750 dollars and 94 cents.
794
00:44:06,044 --> 00:44:09,347
And if you take the total of how
much I would spend for all of
795
00:44:09,347 --> 00:44:13,051
that insulin in one month,
subtract all of our expenses,
796
00:44:13,051 --> 00:44:18,356
I'm still saving 1,555
dollars and 10 cents.
797
00:44:19,057 --> 00:44:22,360
It's crazy to think of
what the difference is.
798
00:44:22,360 --> 00:44:24,362
I mean, I can...
799
00:44:24,362 --> 00:44:27,498
come to Canada
twice and still save like
800
00:44:27,498 --> 00:44:30,035
300 dollars.
801
00:44:32,738 --> 00:44:36,541
*mellow ambient music
802
00:44:36,541 --> 00:44:39,577
How long does it
take from here to get to Canada?
803
00:44:39,577 --> 00:44:42,680
Canada's
the other side of this.
804
00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:44,682
Oh, we're next!
805
00:44:44,682 --> 00:44:48,386
- Oh, I'm scared!
806
00:44:49,888 --> 00:44:52,190
Ooh, it's a dude.
He looks hot.
807
00:44:52,190 --> 00:44:53,859
Emma Mae!
808
00:44:53,859 --> 00:44:56,227
- Mm...
- Ooh, our turn!
809
00:44:56,227 --> 00:44:57,695
- Hoo!
810
00:44:57,695 --> 00:44:59,397
Oh, that's bumpy.
811
00:45:00,866 --> 00:45:01,699
No.
812
00:45:02,901 --> 00:45:04,535
Nope.
813
00:45:04,535 --> 00:45:06,738
Diabetes supplies.
814
00:45:09,274 --> 00:45:10,075
No.
815
00:45:10,742 --> 00:45:13,578
That stuff's too
expensive to give away.
816
00:45:13,578 --> 00:45:15,280
Oh,
we're in Canada!
817
00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:16,414
I know, it's so weird!
818
00:45:18,616 --> 00:45:21,252
- Oh my gosh.
- Ohh!
819
00:45:22,620 --> 00:45:25,556
Can you pay in
English money here?
820
00:45:25,556 --> 00:45:27,592
US dollars here?
821
00:45:27,592 --> 00:45:30,295
I think in
some places, you can.
822
00:45:30,295 --> 00:45:32,563
I'm just glad that we don't have
to drive on the opposite side of
823
00:45:32,563 --> 00:45:34,265
the road.
824
00:45:34,265 --> 00:45:37,268
Your
destination is on the right.
825
00:45:38,770 --> 00:45:39,905
That's it.
826
00:45:39,905 --> 00:45:41,306
Thank you.
827
00:45:44,609 --> 00:45:47,278
- Hi.
- Hi.
828
00:45:47,278 --> 00:45:49,147
Uh, my name's Sandra.
829
00:45:49,147 --> 00:45:52,283
We made some arrangements
to pick up some insulin?
830
00:45:52,283 --> 00:45:53,318
Yes.
831
00:45:53,318 --> 00:45:54,619
Who's the medication for?
832
00:45:54,619 --> 00:45:55,921
- Both of us.
- Okay.
833
00:45:55,921 --> 00:46:00,291
Um, so, um, if you
could actually put down,
834
00:46:00,291 --> 00:46:02,928
uh, which medications...
835
00:46:02,928 --> 00:46:05,330
- Is for which person?
- Yeah.
836
00:46:05,330 --> 00:46:06,464
How was your drive?
837
00:46:06,464 --> 00:46:07,598
Hers is...
838
00:46:07,598 --> 00:46:09,767
- Fun.
- Yeah, fun?
839
00:46:09,767 --> 00:46:10,568
Perfect.
840
00:46:10,568 --> 00:46:11,937
I'll go get
this started for ya.
841
00:46:11,937 --> 00:46:12,737
Okay, thank you.
842
00:46:12,737 --> 00:46:13,939
It'll just be a
couple of minutes.
843
00:46:13,939 --> 00:46:16,141
Awesome, thank you.
844
00:46:19,444 --> 00:46:20,946
Do you know what
the insulin's costing you in
845
00:46:20,946 --> 00:46:22,047
the States?
846
00:46:22,047 --> 00:46:24,515
It's quite a
bit more; it's a little over
847
00:46:24,515 --> 00:46:25,450
- 2,000 dollars--
- Wow.
848
00:46:25,450 --> 00:46:27,485
For what
we're picking up today.
849
00:46:27,485 --> 00:46:29,821
- That's a lot.
- It's quite a bit.
850
00:46:29,821 --> 00:46:31,622
I don't understand
how people can afford it,
851
00:46:31,622 --> 00:46:33,658
- quite frankly.
- Right!
852
00:46:33,658 --> 00:46:35,326
Yeah, we've had
people fly down,
853
00:46:35,326 --> 00:46:39,197
take a trip, pick it up-- we're
right close to the airport--
854
00:46:39,197 --> 00:46:39,965
- Right.
- And then just fly right back.
855
00:46:39,965 --> 00:46:40,832
Oh, yeah.
856
00:46:40,832 --> 00:46:42,333
And then they
still save a fortune.
857
00:46:42,333 --> 00:46:43,969
Yup, it's crazy.
858
00:46:43,969 --> 00:46:46,972
"Insulin rationing's"
become a household term--
859
00:46:46,972 --> 00:46:48,106
Yup.
860
00:46:48,106 --> 00:46:49,807
- Which is very scary.
- Been there, done that.
861
00:46:49,807 --> 00:46:50,976
- That's scary.
- Yup.
862
00:46:50,976 --> 00:46:52,143
That's very scary.
863
00:46:52,143 --> 00:46:55,813
So we're giving you,
uh, a box of the Tresiba.
864
00:46:55,813 --> 00:46:56,681
All right.
865
00:46:56,681 --> 00:46:58,716
And you're
aware of storage?
866
00:46:58,716 --> 00:47:00,385
- Yup.
- In the fridge.
867
00:47:00,385 --> 00:47:02,520
And then we
also have the vial.
868
00:47:02,520 --> 00:47:04,655
Do you have the
actual reusable pen?
869
00:47:04,655 --> 00:47:05,857
Yes, yeah.
870
00:47:05,857 --> 00:47:07,893
Okay, do
you need an extra in case?
871
00:47:07,893 --> 00:47:09,360
- Uh...
- 'Cause it's no charge.
872
00:47:09,360 --> 00:47:10,395
How-- there's no charge?
873
00:47:10,395 --> 00:47:12,230
Then yeah, we'll
take one of those.
874
00:47:12,230 --> 00:47:14,232
So we'll do that.
Any preference to color?
875
00:47:14,232 --> 00:47:16,401
There's blue and
silver, I think.
876
00:47:16,401 --> 00:47:17,835
Do you want blue or silver?
877
00:47:17,835 --> 00:47:18,870
Blue.
878
00:47:18,870 --> 00:47:21,206
- Blue?
- Blue, please.
879
00:47:23,241 --> 00:47:24,542
Awesome, thank you.
880
00:47:24,542 --> 00:47:25,710
Thank you.
Nice to meet you.
881
00:47:25,710 --> 00:47:26,511
Thank you for the recommendations.
882
00:47:26,511 --> 00:47:28,379
- Yeah.
- Nice meeting you.
883
00:47:28,379 --> 00:47:29,414
- Nice to meet you.
- Ready?
884
00:47:29,414 --> 00:47:31,216
Nice to meet you, too.
885
00:47:32,250 --> 00:47:33,885
Way easier than
I thought it was gonna be.
886
00:47:36,421 --> 00:47:39,724
It's very rewarding
to help Americans in the
887
00:47:39,724 --> 00:47:41,692
predicament that they
find themselves in with
888
00:47:41,692 --> 00:47:43,028
the drug prices.
889
00:47:43,028 --> 00:47:44,695
In the States,
prescription medicine
890
00:47:44,695 --> 00:47:46,597
is handled like a business.
891
00:47:46,597 --> 00:47:49,034
In Canada, it's healthcare.
892
00:47:49,034 --> 00:47:53,404
*sparse curious music
893
00:47:53,404 --> 00:47:56,607
After I wrote this
article about insulin costs,
894
00:47:56,607 --> 00:48:00,445
I was deluged with
emails from people in Europe,
895
00:48:00,445 --> 00:48:01,712
South America
like, "Oh, you know,
896
00:48:01,712 --> 00:48:02,880
my insulin is free!
897
00:48:02,880 --> 00:48:05,583
My insulin costs
three pesos as a copay!"
898
00:48:05,583 --> 00:48:08,053
And they were shocked
that American patients
899
00:48:08,053 --> 00:48:09,420
have to suffer.
900
00:48:09,420 --> 00:48:10,922
Like, "What do
you mean, you know,
901
00:48:10,922 --> 00:48:12,057
you can't-- you
run out of insulin?"
902
00:48:12,057 --> 00:48:14,059
It was unheard of!
903
00:48:14,059 --> 00:48:15,927
Based on my own
experience with my patient,
904
00:48:15,927 --> 00:48:19,430
I began to learn
about the very dark,
905
00:48:19,430 --> 00:48:22,600
sort of twisted system of
how our medications work.
906
00:48:22,600 --> 00:48:26,437
So, um, it's-- it's helpful
to understand how the supply
907
00:48:26,437 --> 00:48:28,473
chain works.
908
00:48:29,807 --> 00:48:31,642
Let's say we take insulin.
909
00:48:31,642 --> 00:48:35,313
For ease of calculation, I'll
say it's 100 dollars a vial.
910
00:48:35,313 --> 00:48:38,583
The pharmaceutical company may
sell it to the wholesaler for
911
00:48:38,583 --> 00:48:41,319
110 dollars.
912
00:48:41,319 --> 00:48:46,457
The wholesaler then sells it to
the pharmacy for 120 dollars.
913
00:48:46,457 --> 00:48:48,793
Now, they kept 10
dollars of the hundred.
914
00:48:48,793 --> 00:48:52,797
The pharmacy now sells to people
who don't have insurance for 130
915
00:48:52,797 --> 00:48:56,467
dollars, so now they
get to keep 10 dollars.
916
00:48:56,467 --> 00:49:00,505
So that's what faces people
who don't have insurance.
917
00:49:01,372 --> 00:49:04,009
On the other hand...
918
00:49:04,509 --> 00:49:09,014
insurance companies work through
pharmacy benefit managers.
919
00:49:09,347 --> 00:49:11,983
Now, pharmacy benefit
managers negotiate with the
920
00:49:11,983 --> 00:49:16,454
pharmaceutical company that "I
will pay you only 60 dollars for
921
00:49:16,454 --> 00:49:18,023
your insulin."
922
00:49:18,023 --> 00:49:21,826
And so, together, the patient
and the pharmacy benefit manager
923
00:49:21,826 --> 00:49:24,996
will pay pharmacies 130...
924
00:49:24,996 --> 00:49:28,799
but PBMs get 50 dollars back
from the pharmaceutical company
925
00:49:28,799 --> 00:49:30,901
as a rebate.
926
00:49:31,369 --> 00:49:36,407
Over time, PBMs have realized
that the higher the price of the
927
00:49:36,407 --> 00:49:40,545
drug, they can profit more,
because pharmaceutical companies
928
00:49:40,545 --> 00:49:45,383
are willing to give rebates
on higher-priced medications.
929
00:49:45,383 --> 00:49:48,019
And now that the
price of insulin goes up,
930
00:49:48,019 --> 00:49:51,556
everyone in the supply chain is
benefiting from a high price,
931
00:49:51,556 --> 00:49:55,693
and the only person who's not
benefitting is the patient.
932
00:49:55,693 --> 00:49:58,863
Pharmacy benefit managers have
all kinds of deals that--
933
00:49:58,863 --> 00:50:02,567
you know, to increase revenue
with the drug companies.
934
00:50:02,567 --> 00:50:04,169
And of course, no one really
knows what these deals are
935
00:50:04,169 --> 00:50:06,871
because they're
not transparent.
936
00:50:07,705 --> 00:50:11,042
You know, these middlepeople,
they're not really doing any
937
00:50:11,042 --> 00:50:13,411
healthcare for the patient,
they're just sort of--
938
00:50:13,411 --> 00:50:17,048
it's just another layer
of-- of bureaucracy,
939
00:50:17,048 --> 00:50:21,052
from which, you know, a
lot of money changes hands.
940
00:50:21,052 --> 00:50:24,189
Diabetes is growing, and so the
market is ever bigger and bigger
941
00:50:24,189 --> 00:50:25,156
and bigger.
942
00:50:25,156 --> 00:50:27,725
There's a huge
amount of money at stake.
943
00:50:38,936 --> 00:50:42,640
So today, we are
announcing the Federal Program.
944
00:50:42,640 --> 00:50:47,445
Next week, on the anniversary
of Alec Smith's tragic death,
945
00:50:47,445 --> 00:50:51,616
I will be introducing the
Emergency Access to Insulin Act.
946
00:50:51,616 --> 00:50:54,919
This type of safety net should
be available in each and every
947
00:50:54,919 --> 00:50:57,755
state, and I thank
Senator Smith for listening,
948
00:50:57,755 --> 00:51:00,891
for caring, and for
actually taking action.
949
00:51:00,891 --> 00:51:01,892
Thank you.
950
00:51:01,892 --> 00:51:03,060
Thank you, Nicole.
Good job.
951
00:51:03,060 --> 00:51:04,329
- Thank you.
- Good job.
952
00:51:04,329 --> 00:51:06,231
All right, we have time
for some questions from members
953
00:51:06,231 --> 00:51:07,098
of the press.
954
00:51:11,969 --> 00:51:16,141
Have you heard any updates on
that and whether we might be
955
00:51:16,141 --> 00:51:18,075
moving toward that
in the recent days?
956
00:51:18,075 --> 00:51:21,812
From the last I heard, um...
957
00:51:22,012 --> 00:51:26,117
the Governor would approve a
special session as long as both
958
00:51:26,117 --> 00:51:29,954
sides-- uh, Senate and House-- could come together and work,
959
00:51:29,954 --> 00:51:32,623
you know, together
on a resolution.
960
00:51:38,028 --> 00:51:40,798
Those are always
ongoing, yeah.
961
00:51:41,799 --> 00:51:45,136
Thank you for being brave
and getting on board with this.
962
00:51:45,136 --> 00:51:46,837
I'm sorry, but insulin
can't be given out on a
963
00:51:46,837 --> 00:51:50,107
seven-day supply, so how...
964
00:51:50,107 --> 00:51:51,809
how-- that's-- that
will have to be changed.
965
00:51:51,809 --> 00:51:53,144
- Changed, okay.
- Yeah.
966
00:51:53,144 --> 00:51:55,780
Whatever kind of
reason there was for that,
967
00:51:55,780 --> 00:51:56,481
I'm not sure.
968
00:51:56,481 --> 00:51:57,782
- Okay.
- But let's check in.
969
00:51:57,782 --> 00:51:58,783
Okay.
970
00:51:58,783 --> 00:52:00,117
Because we're just
announcing the bill today.
971
00:52:00,117 --> 00:52:01,952
- Yeah, yeah.
- It's not dropping.
972
00:52:01,952 --> 00:52:02,987
- Yeah.
- And even after it does,
973
00:52:02,987 --> 00:52:03,954
- we can still...
- Yeah, yeah.
974
00:52:03,954 --> 00:52:05,656
- You know, modify.
- Yeah.
975
00:52:05,656 --> 00:52:06,924
- But thank you--
- Yeah.
976
00:52:06,924 --> 00:52:09,794
Because if that is, in fact, the
case, we do not wanna do that.
977
00:52:09,794 --> 00:52:11,061
Yeah.
978
00:52:11,061 --> 00:52:15,032
The work that you all have been
doing has changed the discussion
979
00:52:15,032 --> 00:52:18,303
around the importance
of access to insulin,
980
00:52:18,303 --> 00:52:20,838
and I'm just so grateful
for what you've done.
981
00:52:20,838 --> 00:52:22,006
Thank you!
982
00:52:22,006 --> 00:52:23,308
Glad to be a partner with
you in all of this.
983
00:52:23,308 --> 00:52:25,042
[laughs] Yes!
984
00:52:25,042 --> 00:52:26,677
We need all of the partners
that we can get.
985
00:52:26,677 --> 00:52:29,146
Yes, we do,
I know!
986
00:52:31,048 --> 00:52:42,327
*mellow heartwarming music
987
00:52:42,327 --> 00:52:43,694
Do you
need more mulch?
988
00:52:43,694 --> 00:52:46,063
- No.
- Okay.
989
00:52:46,397 --> 00:52:49,334
I'm gonna run to Menards
and get some of that filler.
990
00:52:49,334 --> 00:52:50,468
'Cause I'm filling that hole.
991
00:52:50,468 --> 00:52:52,703
Filling the
hole is not gonna do anything!
992
00:52:52,703 --> 00:52:53,971
It is to!
993
00:52:53,971 --> 00:52:55,673
They're just gonna stand there
and peck at it until they get
994
00:52:55,673 --> 00:52:57,242
back in!
995
00:52:57,742 --> 00:53:00,177
Will you
tell 'em to get out, then?
996
00:53:00,177 --> 00:53:02,213
You're funny.
997
00:53:04,749 --> 00:53:07,084
Oh my goodness...
998
00:53:07,552 --> 00:53:09,186
Nicole's, um...
999
00:53:09,186 --> 00:53:11,356
to me, she's my Superwoman.
1000
00:53:11,356 --> 00:53:14,024
That woman will...
1001
00:53:14,024 --> 00:53:15,760
write up scripts.
1002
00:53:15,760 --> 00:53:17,895
Anything I say in public, she'll
write it up for me ahead of
1003
00:53:17,895 --> 00:53:20,898
time, because I don't
have the time to do that.
1004
00:53:21,566 --> 00:53:24,201
My specialty
is doing rallies
1005
00:53:24,201 --> 00:53:28,072
and letting my voice
be loud and proud.
1006
00:53:28,573 --> 00:53:31,075
All right.
1007
00:53:37,648 --> 00:53:40,084
We should
not have had to bury him.
1008
00:53:42,653 --> 00:53:44,922
If there was a way we
could go back in time,
1009
00:53:44,922 --> 00:53:47,892
I know it's impossible, but I
would love to switch places with
1010
00:53:47,892 --> 00:53:50,928
him and have him here.
1011
00:53:52,963 --> 00:53:56,767
If there was a way
we could do that, yup...
1012
00:54:00,938 --> 00:54:03,240
I love my son.
1013
00:54:06,977 --> 00:54:09,947
Every time
I hear them chimes, wow.
1014
00:54:12,016 --> 00:54:15,786
It's the partial song
of "Amazing Grace."
1015
00:54:15,786 --> 00:54:22,293
*"Amazing Grace" chiming
1016
00:54:27,832 --> 00:54:32,303
[sighs] They're
about to vote on Alec's bill.
1017
00:54:33,471 --> 00:54:35,973
468, after line 26, insert.
1018
00:54:35,973 --> 00:54:37,675
This is the A1 amendment.
1019
00:54:37,675 --> 00:54:39,677
To the
amendment, Senator Wiklund.
1020
00:54:39,677 --> 00:54:44,114
The A1 amendment is
the Alec Smith Emergency,
1021
00:54:44,114 --> 00:54:46,183
um, Insulin Act.
1022
00:54:46,183 --> 00:54:49,153
We've had a lot of discussion
about it over the past couple
1023
00:54:49,153 --> 00:54:51,989
weeks, and I urge
you to vote yes.
1024
00:54:51,989 --> 00:54:53,290
The
Secretary will take the roll on
1025
00:54:53,290 --> 00:54:55,960
the A1 amendment.
1026
00:55:10,741 --> 00:55:14,178
There being 33 ayes and 34 nays,
the motion does not prevail and
1027
00:55:14,178 --> 00:55:15,813
the amendment is not adopted.
1028
00:55:22,186 --> 00:55:24,722
It's so frustrating.
1029
00:55:24,722 --> 00:55:28,726
I don't have any patience
for them at this point.
1030
00:55:30,094 --> 00:55:33,197
I think it's
gonna take a...
1031
00:55:33,197 --> 00:55:36,701
a miracle before
something gets done.
1032
00:55:47,545 --> 00:55:49,046
I think this is great.
1033
00:55:49,046 --> 00:55:51,516
Are you a fast talker?
1034
00:55:51,516 --> 00:55:54,051
- Sometimes.
- Okay.
1035
00:55:54,051 --> 00:55:55,520
If I get nervous, I
could be very fast.
1036
00:55:59,256 --> 00:56:00,891
Is yours on your phone?
1037
00:56:00,891 --> 00:56:02,159
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
1038
00:56:02,159 --> 00:56:05,530
I mean, I ha-- 'cause it's like
the third thing I've done so...
1039
00:56:05,530 --> 00:56:08,933
That's how I-- I
had one twice as long.
1040
00:56:08,933 --> 00:56:11,769
I think if you feel comfortable
that you can do this in less
1041
00:56:11,769 --> 00:56:15,372
than three minutes,
then I say go for it.
1042
00:56:15,372 --> 00:56:17,074
I know I have to do it.
1043
00:56:17,074 --> 00:56:18,909
- Yeah.
- But...
1044
00:56:18,909 --> 00:56:20,945
what it takes out of you is...
1045
00:56:20,945 --> 00:56:25,249
The emotional toll
that we experience sharing
1046
00:56:25,249 --> 00:56:29,420
every single time is exhausting.
1047
00:56:29,420 --> 00:56:32,056
It is,
and you relive it.
1048
00:56:32,056 --> 00:56:33,924
So...
1049
00:56:38,429 --> 00:56:45,402
*tense ethereal music
1050
00:57:26,176 --> 00:57:27,444
Can I sit with you?
1051
00:57:27,444 --> 00:57:29,313
Yes, Nicole!
1052
00:57:29,313 --> 00:57:31,015
How are you doing?
1053
00:57:31,015 --> 00:57:34,318
You know, worried about baby
girl and what's gonna happen in
1054
00:57:34,318 --> 00:57:35,452
two years with her, you know?
1055
00:57:35,452 --> 00:57:37,321
Right.
How is she doing now?
1056
00:57:37,321 --> 00:57:39,323
She's in college; she's at
the University of Toledo.
1057
00:57:39,323 --> 00:57:41,158
- Yeah.
- So...
1058
00:57:41,158 --> 00:57:42,993
- And that's going well?
- It's driving me crazy.
1059
00:57:42,993 --> 00:57:44,461
-
- She's away from home but...
1060
00:57:44,461 --> 00:57:45,996
That's so hard!
1061
00:57:45,996 --> 00:57:47,498
It is!
1062
00:57:47,498 --> 00:57:51,001
I'm scared I'm gonna lose
her just like I lost Antavia.
1063
00:57:51,001 --> 00:57:54,338
All because she
couldn't afford her insulin.
1064
00:57:54,338 --> 00:57:57,174
I was 15 years
old when I had her.
1065
00:57:57,174 --> 00:58:00,144
Never once thought that my baby
was gonna be gone at the age of
1066
00:58:00,144 --> 00:58:02,479
22 years old...
1067
00:58:02,479 --> 00:58:04,515
with a whole life
in front of her.
1068
00:58:04,515 --> 00:58:06,651
A whole life.
1069
00:58:06,651 --> 00:58:09,319
Have to stay strong.
1070
00:58:09,319 --> 00:58:11,321
It's hard sometimes.
1071
00:58:15,693 --> 00:58:21,899
*tense ambient music
1072
00:58:28,038 --> 00:58:29,506
Medicine
for the people!
1073
00:58:29,506 --> 00:58:31,576
Not for profit!
1074
00:58:31,576 --> 00:58:34,078
- What do we want?!
- Insulin for all!
1075
00:58:34,078 --> 00:58:38,382
- When do we want it?!
- Now!
1076
00:58:38,382 --> 00:58:40,551
- What do we want?!
- Insulin for all!
1077
00:58:40,551 --> 00:58:42,219
- When do we want it?!
- Now!
1078
00:58:42,219 --> 00:58:44,054
- What do we want?!
- Insulin for all!
1079
00:58:44,054 --> 00:58:45,522
- When do we want it?!
- Now!
1080
00:58:45,522 --> 00:58:47,692
- When do we want it?!
- Now!
1081
00:58:47,692 --> 00:58:50,227
- When are we demanding it?!
- Now!
1082
00:58:50,227 --> 00:58:51,696
- Right now!
- Now!
1083
00:58:51,696 --> 00:58:53,530
- Right now!
- Now!
1084
00:58:53,530 --> 00:58:55,065
Thank you!
1085
00:59:03,574 --> 00:59:07,477
Joshua died
three months ago tomorrow.
1086
00:59:07,477 --> 00:59:09,213
The
paramedics had to restart his
1087
00:59:09,213 --> 00:59:12,116
heart twice...
1088
00:59:12,116 --> 00:59:16,453
on the way to the hospital,
which was five minutes away.
1089
00:59:16,754 --> 00:59:18,555
My son is Jesimya
Scherer-Radcliff,
1090
00:59:18,555 --> 00:59:20,457
but we called him "Jesy."
1091
00:59:20,457 --> 00:59:22,259
After not being able to
get in touch with him,
1092
00:59:22,259 --> 00:59:24,428
we found Jesy in his home.
1093
00:59:24,428 --> 00:59:27,965
He had passed away from
diabetic ketoacidosis.
1094
00:59:27,965 --> 00:59:30,300
810 days.
1095
00:59:31,101 --> 00:59:35,272
That's how many days it's been
since Alec's body was found.
1096
00:59:35,272 --> 00:59:38,976
810 days of pure pain.
1097
00:59:38,976 --> 00:59:43,748
I've not had a peaceful night's
sleep or a day without thoughts.
1098
00:59:45,650 --> 00:59:49,620
I will not rest until I have
seen justice for the lives that
1099
00:59:49,620 --> 00:59:54,591
Pharma, our healthcare system,
and our government has taken.
1100
00:59:54,591 --> 01:00:04,434
*crowd humming
"Amazing Grace"♪
1101
01:00:13,343 --> 01:00:17,447
*Amazing grace
1102
01:00:17,447 --> 01:00:22,152
*How sweet the sound
1103
01:00:22,152 --> 01:00:26,323
*That saved a wretch
1104
01:00:26,323 --> 01:00:30,327
*Like me
1105
01:00:30,327 --> 01:00:34,298
*I once was lost
1106
01:00:34,298 --> 01:00:38,502
*But now, I'm found
1107
01:00:38,502 --> 01:00:40,304
*Was blind...
1108
01:00:41,672 --> 01:00:44,641
No justice, no peace!
1109
01:00:44,641 --> 01:00:47,544
No justice, no peace!
1110
01:00:47,544 --> 01:00:49,346
Justice for Kayla!
1111
01:00:49,346 --> 01:00:51,481
Justice for Kayla!
1112
01:00:51,481 --> 01:00:53,483
Justice for Jada!
1113
01:00:53,483 --> 01:00:55,519
Justice for Jada!
1114
01:00:55,519 --> 01:00:57,822
Justice for Alec!
1115
01:00:57,822 --> 01:01:01,191
Justice for Alec!
1116
01:01:01,191 --> 01:01:03,660
No justice, no peace!
1117
01:01:03,660 --> 01:01:07,064
No justice, no peace!
1118
01:01:07,397 --> 01:01:09,533
Justice for Micah!
1119
01:01:12,369 --> 01:01:13,670
No!
1120
01:01:15,372 --> 01:01:17,207
No!
1121
01:01:17,207 --> 01:01:19,376
No justice, no peace!
1122
01:01:19,376 --> 01:01:21,345
No justice, no peace!
1123
01:01:21,345 --> 01:01:23,347
No justice, no peace!
1124
01:01:23,347 --> 01:01:24,514
Joshua!
1125
01:01:24,514 --> 01:01:25,515
Joshua!
1126
01:01:25,515 --> 01:01:26,683
Antavia!
1127
01:01:26,683 --> 01:01:28,085
Antavia!
1128
01:01:28,085 --> 01:01:29,086
Shay!
1129
01:01:29,086 --> 01:01:30,087
Shay!
1130
01:01:30,087 --> 01:01:31,255
Jesimya!
1131
01:01:31,255 --> 01:01:32,222
Jesimya!
1132
01:01:32,222 --> 01:01:33,190
Jessie!
1133
01:01:33,190 --> 01:01:34,191
Jessie!
1134
01:01:34,191 --> 01:01:35,192
Kayla!
1135
01:01:35,192 --> 01:01:36,260
Kayla!
1136
01:01:36,260 --> 01:01:37,094
Andrew!
1137
01:01:37,094 --> 01:01:38,228
Andrew!
1138
01:01:38,228 --> 01:01:39,096
Megan!
1139
01:01:39,096 --> 01:01:39,696
Megan!
1140
01:01:39,696 --> 01:01:40,697
Jada!
1141
01:01:40,697 --> 01:01:42,099
Jada!
1142
01:01:42,099 --> 01:01:43,868
My baby Alec!
1143
01:01:43,868 --> 01:01:45,870
Alec!
1144
01:01:45,870 --> 01:01:47,872
*dramatic music
1145
01:01:47,872 --> 01:01:49,239
No justice, no peace!
1146
01:01:49,239 --> 01:01:51,408
No justice, no peace!
1147
01:01:51,408 --> 01:01:53,543
No justice, no peace!
1148
01:01:53,543 --> 01:01:55,880
No justice, no peace!
1149
01:01:55,880 --> 01:02:05,722
No justice, no peace!
1150
01:02:17,935 --> 01:02:27,611
*ethereal ambient music
1151
01:02:41,591 --> 01:02:43,760
Your Dex is still not working.
1152
01:02:46,663 --> 01:02:49,299
What's
your blood sugar?
1153
01:02:49,299 --> 01:02:52,336
It's 123.
1154
01:02:52,336 --> 01:02:54,638
Okay, check your bluetooth
and make sure that it's on,
1155
01:02:54,638 --> 01:02:56,340
'cause I'm not
getting anything.
1156
01:02:56,340 --> 01:02:57,942
Yeah, I know;
Grandma already called me.
1157
01:02:57,942 --> 01:02:59,944
Grandma called you too?
1158
01:02:59,944 --> 01:03:00,777
Yes.
1159
01:03:00,777 --> 01:03:03,347
All right, bye.
1160
01:03:03,347 --> 01:03:05,315
- 'Kay, bye, love you.
- Love you too.
1161
01:03:08,685 --> 01:03:12,322
We're coming up
on four years of everything...
1162
01:03:12,322 --> 01:03:16,326
being more okay
than what it was.
1163
01:03:16,326 --> 01:03:17,962
Maybe has
something to do with the date.
1164
01:03:17,962 --> 01:03:20,364
All that looks
good, right, Sandra?
1165
01:03:20,364 --> 01:03:23,200
Yeah, it looks
fine on this end...
1166
01:03:23,200 --> 01:03:27,371
Going from
having nothing to having a job,
1167
01:03:27,371 --> 01:03:30,507
a decent-running vehicle...
1168
01:03:30,507 --> 01:03:35,379
sometimes I have
to pinch myself.
1169
01:03:35,712 --> 01:03:39,884
I'm always scared of
going backwards because I had
1170
01:03:39,884 --> 01:03:44,321
everything and then I lost
it, and had to start all over.
1171
01:03:47,391 --> 01:03:49,860
The health insurance I have
through my employer is really
1172
01:03:49,860 --> 01:03:55,399
good, but it doesn't
always pay for everything.
1173
01:03:55,399 --> 01:03:58,702
Even with great insurance,
there's still a cost for all the
1174
01:03:58,702 --> 01:04:01,505
supplies that two people use.
1175
01:04:09,246 --> 01:04:14,418
I work side jobs, just so we
have the things that we need.
1176
01:04:25,930 --> 01:04:27,564
I don't know what
I wanna do when I grow up.
1177
01:04:27,564 --> 01:04:29,733
I wanna talk to...
1178
01:04:29,733 --> 01:04:32,769
like, reinforcement,
like, police officers,
1179
01:04:32,769 --> 01:04:35,405
but at the same time,
like, people are like,
1180
01:04:35,405 --> 01:04:39,409
"You shouldn't be a type-1
diabetic working with police,"
1181
01:04:39,409 --> 01:04:41,878
and I think that they're
just dumb when they say that
1182
01:04:41,878 --> 01:04:43,413
because...
1183
01:04:43,413 --> 01:04:45,415
you can do anything
when you're a type-1,
1184
01:04:45,415 --> 01:04:48,418
you just have to be cautious.
1185
01:04:48,418 --> 01:04:50,787
But for now, like...
1186
01:04:50,787 --> 01:04:53,557
it's important for
me to get a good job.
1187
01:04:57,928 --> 01:05:00,630
My mom does not
get paid enough
1188
01:05:00,630 --> 01:05:03,900
to pay for everything.
1189
01:05:05,802 --> 01:05:09,606
When I turn 26 and I have
to pay for my own stuff,
1190
01:05:09,606 --> 01:05:12,776
I'm a little scared.
1191
01:05:14,644 --> 01:05:17,747
Like, I have nightmares
about being homeless again.
1192
01:05:21,618 --> 01:05:25,622
I never thought
that my child...
1193
01:05:25,622 --> 01:05:28,325
would really...
1194
01:05:28,325 --> 01:05:31,795
hold onto that...
1195
01:05:31,795 --> 01:05:34,931
necessity of
getting a job so young.
1196
01:05:34,931 --> 01:05:36,666
Good luck!
Love you!
1197
01:05:36,666 --> 01:05:39,003
Love you too!
1198
01:05:39,336 --> 01:05:40,604
See, you gotta get
used to the pressure because
1199
01:05:40,604 --> 01:05:42,472
it flies.
1200
01:05:42,472 --> 01:05:45,109
I'm so proud of her,
1201
01:05:45,109 --> 01:05:46,810
but at 14,
1202
01:05:46,810 --> 01:05:50,480
you shouldn't get a job to have
to pay for medical supplies.
1203
01:05:50,814 --> 01:05:54,518
Just... shake it out.
1204
01:05:54,518 --> 01:05:58,355
14-year-olds should be working
for their fun things, not...
1205
01:05:58,355 --> 01:06:00,657
to stay alive.
1206
01:06:04,661 --> 01:06:07,364
After a two-year battle, the
Minnesota House and Senate today
1207
01:06:07,364 --> 01:06:09,966
both passed the Alec
Smith Emergency Insulin Bill.
1208
01:06:11,735 --> 01:06:13,837
Amidst the pandemic
precautions of masks and social
1209
01:06:13,837 --> 01:06:16,806
distancing, the legislature
moved forward with an emergency
1210
01:06:16,806 --> 01:06:17,841
insulin bill.
1211
01:06:17,841 --> 01:06:20,010
This is a good
day in Minnesota.
1212
01:06:20,010 --> 01:06:22,646
Nicole Smith-Holt
sat in the House gallery as the
1213
01:06:22,646 --> 01:06:24,381
vote was announced.
1214
01:06:24,381 --> 01:06:28,018
There being
111 ayes and 22 nays,
1215
01:06:28,018 --> 01:06:30,687
the bill is passed as amended
by conference and its title
1216
01:06:30,687 --> 01:06:32,822
agreed to.
1217
01:06:32,822 --> 01:06:39,063
*uplifting music
1218
01:06:39,063 --> 01:06:41,665
When we heard the final
verdict that it passed,
1219
01:06:41,665 --> 01:06:43,167
it was a celebration.
1220
01:06:43,167 --> 01:06:45,001
It was like
fireworks going off.
1221
01:06:45,001 --> 01:06:46,870
It was like the final chapter.
1222
01:06:46,870 --> 01:06:50,174
You know, it was
like the conclusion.
1223
01:06:50,174 --> 01:06:53,177
It was like,
"Okay, we've done it."
1224
01:06:59,015 --> 01:07:01,051
So
what comes next?
1225
01:07:01,051 --> 01:07:06,556
We're really, really excited
to have created a bill
1226
01:07:06,556 --> 01:07:07,957
and...
1227
01:07:07,957 --> 01:07:11,728
to have other states
wanting to replicate it.
1228
01:07:11,728 --> 01:07:15,932
I helped Maine and
Colorado with their bills,
1229
01:07:15,932 --> 01:07:19,736
and there's other states
that want to have a similar
1230
01:07:19,736 --> 01:07:21,805
bill to Alec's.
1231
01:07:21,805 --> 01:07:25,575
Tina Smith is really working
hard to create something similar
1232
01:07:25,575 --> 01:07:27,911
on the federal level.
1233
01:07:27,911 --> 01:07:30,447
Pharma's
challenging the bill and,
1234
01:07:30,447 --> 01:07:32,582
you know, suing the
state of Minnesota.
1235
01:07:34,584 --> 01:07:38,455
You know, it's been a really
rough four years.
1236
01:07:38,455 --> 01:07:40,624
Um...
1237
01:07:40,624 --> 01:07:42,592
I was-- I was a
shell of a person.
1238
01:07:42,592 --> 01:07:44,094
I was not...
1239
01:07:44,094 --> 01:07:47,931
I was not capable
of being a mom.
1240
01:07:47,931 --> 01:07:51,935
I-- I
needed to-- to mourn,
1241
01:07:51,935 --> 01:07:56,072
and I needed to grieve,
and I needed to escape.
1242
01:07:57,741 --> 01:08:00,777
Um...
1243
01:08:03,147 --> 01:08:07,917
And my advocacy was a way
for me to-- to do that.
1244
01:08:11,121 --> 01:08:13,790
Since Alec's bill
been passed into law,
1245
01:08:13,790 --> 01:08:17,827
over 600 people's been
saved-- their lives' been saved.
1246
01:08:18,128 --> 01:08:20,997
So the bill is working.
1247
01:08:20,997 --> 01:08:22,932
How proud does
that make you feel?
1248
01:08:22,932 --> 01:08:25,969
Very proud. Ecstatic.
1249
01:08:26,170 --> 01:08:28,638
I know Alec is watching.
1250
01:08:28,638 --> 01:08:30,940
And he's saying,
"Nobody else."
1251
01:08:30,940 --> 01:08:33,143
He's an angel.
1252
01:08:33,643 --> 01:08:36,112
But you know, the fight doesn't
stop just because we won this
1253
01:08:36,112 --> 01:08:37,347
small battle.
1254
01:08:37,347 --> 01:08:41,151
You know, we still have a war
to win and-- and ultimately,
1255
01:08:41,151 --> 01:08:44,521
we don't stop fighting
until we've won that.
1256
01:08:51,995 --> 01:08:53,129
Hey!
1257
01:08:53,129 --> 01:08:54,298
How y'all doing?
1258
01:08:54,298 --> 01:08:56,166
Glad y'all could make it!
1259
01:08:56,166 --> 01:08:58,668
4th of July at our
house tends to be a big
1260
01:08:58,668 --> 01:09:00,837
celebration.
1261
01:09:00,837 --> 01:09:03,006
Come to grandma!
1262
01:09:03,006 --> 01:09:05,141
It's just a way
to celebrate Alec since it was
1263
01:09:05,141 --> 01:09:08,011
his favorite holiday.
1264
01:09:08,011 --> 01:09:09,679
Food is ready
for whomever would like
1265
01:09:09,679 --> 01:09:11,014
to make a plate!
1266
01:09:11,014 --> 01:09:12,015
It all looks so good!
1267
01:09:12,015 --> 01:09:13,116
It's a
time for people to...
1268
01:09:13,116 --> 01:09:16,553
to share stories of
Alec and to remember him.
1269
01:09:16,553 --> 01:09:19,022
Alec, he couldn't get
into that damn house!
1270
01:09:20,156 --> 01:09:21,325
This is one of
his best friends.
1271
01:09:24,060 --> 01:09:25,895
You know,
it can be a lot of fun,
1272
01:09:25,895 --> 01:09:27,697
but it could also be really sad.
1273
01:09:27,697 --> 01:09:30,734
- I love you.
- I love you too, man.
1274
01:09:30,734 --> 01:09:31,668
You know what?
1275
01:09:31,668 --> 01:09:34,170
Tonight, we celebrate
the bill passing.
1276
01:09:34,170 --> 01:09:36,039
No one else has to die
1277
01:09:36,039 --> 01:09:39,008
because they can't
afford insulin.
1278
01:09:39,008 --> 01:09:42,045
My son's not with me...
1279
01:09:42,045 --> 01:09:46,049
in the body, but
he's in my spirit.
1280
01:09:47,050 --> 01:09:48,585
Long live Al.
1281
01:09:48,585 --> 01:09:51,255
- Long live Al!
- Long live Al.
1282
01:09:51,888 --> 01:09:54,057
Yup.
1283
01:09:54,057 --> 01:09:56,025
- That's a fact!
- Love you, bro!
1284
01:09:56,025 --> 01:09:56,860
Love you!
1285
01:09:56,860 --> 01:09:58,562
We're always connected.
1286
01:10:03,900 --> 01:10:05,369
Mm.
1287
01:10:05,369 --> 01:10:07,103
Mm!
1288
01:10:09,739 --> 01:10:11,741
You ready?!
1289
01:10:20,884 --> 01:10:22,252
Tell 'em!
1290
01:10:23,753 --> 01:10:25,789
Tell 'em!
1291
01:10:25,789 --> 01:10:34,598
*uplifting music
1292
01:11:01,291 --> 01:11:08,298
*heartwarming mellow music
1293
01:11:46,169 --> 01:11:57,681
*ethereal music