With a bureaucratic logjam keeping generic insulin products off the market, Governor Tim Pawlenty today joined three other governors in petitioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clear the way for lower cost alternative treatments for diabetes.

“People who need affordable insulin should not be stuck in the FDA’s waiting room,” Governor Pawlenty said. “We know that diabetes care is one of the most expensive parts of our health care system. Making generic insulin available in the marketplace would create competition that could dramatically lower health care expenditures for individuals, businesses and governments. The science is proven and now it’s time to move forward.”

Governor Pawlenty today joined Governor Jim Doyle (D-Wisconsin), Governor Jim Douglas (R-Vermont) and Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kansas) in submitting a Citizen’s Petition to the FDA that would allow the sale of more affordable versions of insulin and human growth hormone (HGH). This is the first time a group of governors has submitted a Citizen’s Petition to the FDA.

The petition requests that the FDA promptly issue guidance documents outlining specific approval requirements for generic forms of insulin and HGH that are equivalent to the brand products currently approved by the FDA. Therapeutic equivalents for insulin and HGH were authorized by Congress in 1984, but FDA standards for manufacturing have never been released.

Insulin sales in Minnesota are about $42 million annually, including $2.8 million of insulin purchased by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) for its public programs. Assuming a conservative 30% savings, the State of Minnesota and other purchasers could save $12.5 million per year from the use of generic insulin.

“Prescription drug costs for state purchased health care need to be managed and controlled,” said Acting DHS Commissioner Cal Ludeman, Chair of the Governor’s Health Cabinet. “Diabetes is a serious and growing problem – one in ten Minnesotans has or is at high risk of developing the disease and the annual total cost to treat diabetes in Minnesota is estimated at over $2 billion. We need to find optimal care and the most competitive prices and allowing the use of generics will help control costs while maintaining quality.”

On Monday, Governor Pawlenty announced QCare – a new way of paying for state-purchased health care that focuses on better performance and better outcomes. QCare is a new quality standard that will be used to reward top performing providers while saving millions of dollars in health care costs. Under QCare, the number of people receiving optimal care for diabetes in Minnesota will increase from only 6% today to 80% in 2010. For more information on QCare visit http://www.maximumstrengthhealthcare.com.