How the Inflation Reduction Act's $35 monthly insulin cap affects insulin access and health
Insulin Access and Health Outcomes After the Inflation Reduction Act's Out-of-Pocket Spending Caps
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · NIH-11249142
This project looks at whether the Inflation Reduction Act’s $35 monthly cap on insulin helped people on Medicare afford their insulin and stay healthier.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MADISON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11249142 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you use insulin, researchers will compare insurance claims and health records from before and after the $35 cap to see if more people filled prescriptions and stopped rationing insulin. They'll examine hospital visits, diabetes complications, and deaths, and check whether improvements differed by race, ethnicity, and income. The team will also search for unintended effects like changes in plan premiums or which insulins are covered. The work uses large U.S. Medicare and other health databases so you would not need to attend study visits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who use insulin and are covered by Medicare, especially those who previously faced high out-of-pocket insulin costs, are the primary focus.
Not a fit: People who are not on Medicare (for example younger patients with private insurance) or those whose insulin was already affordable may not see direct benefit from this specific analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the cap is shown to help, findings could support policies that make insulin more affordable and reduce diabetes complications and hospitalizations.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies show cost caps can lower out-of-pocket spending and improve adherence, but evidence that caps reduce hospitalizations or deaths is limited and mixed.
Where this research is happening
MADISON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON — MADISON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CAO, YING JESSICA — UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- Study coordinator: CAO, YING JESSICA
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Complications of Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Complications