Scenario: Congress Passes Clean Continuing Resolution
Joint Statement on Congress’ End of Year Spending Package
December 20, 2024
The Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) and Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) are profoundly disappointed that Congress missed a critical opportunity to include proposed pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms in its spending package. By failing to act, lawmakers have left millions of Americans—especially those living with chronic conditions like diabetes—at the mercy of a broken system that drives up prescription drug costs and restricts access to lifesaving treatments.
PBMs continue to exploit their unchecked power, pocketing massive rebates while patients struggle with skyrocketing out-of-pocket costs. These harmful practices force people to choose between their health and their financial security, a devastating and unacceptable reality for anyone managing a chronic illness.
While this short-term resolution narrowly avoids a government shutdown and includes necessary extenders, like reauthorization for the Special Diabetes Program and telehealth flexibilities for theMedicare Diabetes Prevention Program, it does nothing to address the systemic failures in our healthcare system. We call on the new Congress to reignite efforts in 2025 and deliver bold, long-term solutions that hold PBMs accountable, lower drug costs, and put patients back at the center of care.
DPAC and DLC remain unwavering in our commitment to elevate the voices of patients across the country and demand meaningful policy change. It’s time to prioritize the health and well-being ofAmericans over corporate profits.