ICYMI: Rep. TJ Cox Releases Congressional Report on Diabetes in 21st District
On Thursday, Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) held a press conference in Bakersfield to release a new Congressional report on diabetes in California’s 21st Congressional District. Joining him was Vicki Jones, a local patient advocate from Lemoore, CA, and health experts from Dignity Health Memorial Hospital - Bakersfield, including Endocrinologist Dr. Harshit Shah.
“The rising cost of insulin and supplies is something every T1D family faces and we are no exception” said Vicki Jones. “With two children with T1D the out-of-pocket expenses add up quickly and the emotional and financial impact of these expenses takes a toll on us.”
“If you look at cases of diabetes around the country, the national average is only 10%. However, here in Kern County, the average is 30.3%. For those over the age of 45 living in our community, its about 25%, almost twice the national average for those with type 2 diabetes.” said Dr. Harshit Shah.
“As a Member of Congress representing California’s 21st Congressional District, I thought it was important to find out the impact of diabetes in the Congressional District I represent” said Rep. Cox. “We are gathering to unveil new data that sheds light on the fight ahead to provide affordable treatment to the tens of thousands of people in California’s 21st District who live with type 1 and type 2 diabetes like the Jones family. Together, with community engagement, clinical advances and legislation, we can improve these sobering statistics, relieve the daily burden for people managing this condition and reduce the economic toll of diabetes for families, our healthcare system and the federal health care programs that help millions in this country thrive.”
See the Congressional Report, including an executive summary.
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CBS/Fox Eyewitness News: “’25 percent of these individuals and these families, they had to ration their healthcare. They had to ration their insulin because of the high cost, and to me that was unacceptable,’ Cox said.
“That's why Cox believes it's critical to find solutions.
“In particular, he highlighted ways that he thinks would help people manage the rising costs of critical things like insulin.
“’There's the special diabetes program which needs to be funded by November 21 as part of our budget, and then we need to find a sustainable, long-term funding solution to address diabetes research and advocacy and education,’ said Cox.”
KGET Bakersfield: “People need care, and they need to be able to afford the care,” Cox said at the press conference. “Just like the people here in the district who can’t afford their own incline medicine, that to me is unacceptable. So one, we need to stabilize the affordable care act, we need to bring down the cost of proscription drugs, we need ensure ensure access out to our rural communities, and we also need to expand our healthcare workforce.”