ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Tim Walz expressed outrage at the drug industry’s lawsuit to upend a new state law requiring free insulin for diabetics who can’t afford their prescriptions. “They did something I didn’t think was possible,” Walz said. “They’re more hated than COVID-19.” The timing of the suit, filed quietly Monday, came the day before the law became effective and as Walz was preparing a celebratory news conference with the mother of Alex Smith, who had died being unable to afford insulin three years ago. Smith’s mother had campaigned legislators to find a solution. The legislation that resulted has been called Alec’s Law. Gov. Walz called the lawsuit’s timing cruel: “How do you do this? How do you decide to be so awful on the day before this?”
Earlier: Big Pharma faults emergency insulin law
Almanac: Alec Smith Act