OLYMPIA, WA – Presented to individuals who demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of people impacted by diabetes, the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) is honored to present Washington State Senator Karen Keiser with the DPAC Legislative Champion Award on January 18, 2024.
Sen. Keiser (D-Des Moines) has greatly impacted the diabetes community through her work championing, sponsoring and supporting patient-centered policies. A major diabetes win for Sen. Keiser in 2023 was championing Senate Bill 5729, which removed the expiration on the cost-sharing cap on insulin and made a $35 cap on insulin permanent for Washingtonians. The Senator is a current co-sponsor of Senate Bill 5445, which would require 100% of drug discounts and rebates to be passed through to patients at the pharmacy counter, a major policy priority for DPAC.
"I am honored to receive the DPAC Legislative Champion Award, recognizing the Legislature’s bipartisan efforts to make healthcare more affordable," said Sen. Keiser, who represents Washington's 33rd Legislative District. "We have to make sure everyone can afford to get the care they need. Capping out-of-pocket costs for insulin will make a tremendous difference to many diabetes patients across our state. But we still have much more work to do to drive better health outcomes for all Washingtonians, such as emphasizing cost-sharing fairness for patients at the pharmacy counter.”
“Senator Karen Keiser has demonstrated dedication to the cause of affordable healthcare, particularly in addressing the critical issue of capping insulin costs for those with diabetes. Her efforts reflect a commitment to the health of every resident in Washington. It is with great pride that we present the DPAC Legislative Champion Award to Senator Keiser,” said George Huntley, CEO of the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. “We look forward to further collaboration to improve the lives of all people living with, affected by, or at risk for diabetes.”
The DPAC Legislative Champion award acknowledges those working collaboratively to understand the diabetes community, fighting to increase access and affordability to prevention and management tools and advancing patient-centered policies at the state or federal level for the 37.3 million Americans living with diabetes.
For more information on the needs of people with diabetes across the United States, visit https://www.diabetespac.org/ and to get involved with diabetes policy sign up on https://www.diabetespac.org/champions.
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About the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition
The Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC), a 501(c)4 organization, is a grassroots alliance of thousands of people with diabetes, caregivers, patient advocates, health professionals, disease organizations and companies working collaboratively to promote and support public policy initiatives to improve the health of people with diabetes. Learn more: https://www.diabetespac.org/.
About Senator Karen Keiser
Sen. Karen Keiser represents Washington’s 33rd Legislative District, which contains a number of suburban cities south of Seattle, including SeaTac, Kent, Des Moines and Burien. As President Pro Tempore, she presides over the Washington State Senate when the lieutenant governor is unavailable. And as chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, she champions policies that help working families and improve women’s economic security.
As the former chair and longtime member of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee, Sen. Keiser was a pivotal leader in reforming Washington’s health care system, fully implementing the Affordable Care Act, and passing Washington’s nation-leading Paid Family and Medical Leave program. She has also served as the lead Senate Democratic negotiator on the capital budget. Sen. Keiser currently serves on the budget-writing Ways & Means Committee and as vice chair of the Rules Committee.