Inflation Reduction Act's insulin cost cap and health care outcomes among insulin users in Medicare fee-for-service

This study evaluates the impact of IRA on health care outcomes in Medicare. We hypothesize that the cap will reduce out-of-pocket costs for insulin, reduce gaps in insulin use, improve glycemic control, and reduce diabetes-related emergency department and hospital admissions among insulin users. The long-term goal is to identify policy solutions to ensure the affordability of insulin for everyone who needs it and thereby reduce disparities in avoidable diabetes-related hospitalizations and mortality. The overall objective of this project is to measure the effect of the Inflation Reduction Act’s cap on insulin out-of-pocket costs on insulin access and health outcomes, including reductions in pre-existing disparities by race/ethnicity and income. The general hypothesis is that the cap improved insulin affordability, reduced gaps in insulin use, and improved health outcomes while reducing disparities.