North Dakota
North Dakota advocates plan to continue pushing for insulin price cap
A group of families and advocates met with Gov. Doug Burgum Tuesday, May 28 at the North Dakota Capitol to commemorate a recent law limiting the price of insulin for those on state employee health insurance.
For those on that specific plan, out-of-pocket costs for a monthly supply of insulin are capped at $25. The law sets the same monthly price cap on medical supplies used to administer insulin.
Danelle Johnson, who testified in support of the bill in 2023, said she has mixed feelings about the legislation. The original proposal would have implemented a cap for all North Dakotans, but lawmakers amended it to only affect those on health insurance managed by the Public Employees Retirement System.
The legislation represents a significant step forward, Johnson said. She just wishes the price caps were accessible to more people.
“We have to accept sometimes smaller steps along the way, versus an all-or-nothing,” said Johnson, whose daughter Danika has Type 1 diabetes. “Because otherwise it’s just an all-or-nothing fight all the time, and nothing gets done.”
Insulin, which is needed to treat diabetes, can cost hundreds of dollars per vial. According to a 2023 report by the Health Care Cost Institute, the average monthly cost of insulin in America increased from $271 a month in 2012 to around $499 in 2021.
The high costs may lead diabetes patients to ration their insulin supply or forego treatment altogether — which can cause life-threatening health complications.
About 100,000 Americans died from diabetes in 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s about the same number of deaths the CDC reported for drug overdoses that same year.
“So many people have been unable to afford medicine,” said state Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, the primary sponsor of the bill.
Another mother-daughter pair pushing for insulin reforms, Angela and Nina Kritzberger, were also present at Tuesday’s ceremony.
The Johnsons and Kritzbergers said they both know of children who have had to be airlifted to the hospital because they didn’t have enough insulin treatment.
Nina Kritzberger said she worries about losing friends who also have diabetes.
“I just hope I don’t see a text or Facebook post where their parents say they’re gone because we couldn’t get it,” she said. “Because that shouldn’t even be in our mind.”
The group is working to build support for broader reforms in the next legislative session, Mathern said.
The legislation has been in effect since Aug. 1, 2023, and expires July 31, 2025. Legislative Council estimated the legislation would cost the state about $900,000 over the 2023-2025 budget cycle.
While the measure was signed by Burgum over a year ago, the signing ceremony was delayed because of scheduling conflicts, Mathern said.
The federal government also set a $35 monthly price limit on insulin for Medicaid patients in the Inflation Reduction Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022.
This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com
______________________________________________________
This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.
North Dakota
Fargo Police participate in torch run for Special Olympics North Dakota – KVRR Local News
FARGO (KVRR) — Members of the Fargo Police Department put on their running shoes to take part in honoring Special Olympics in North Dakota.
They took part in a one-point-four mile run, taking the torch from the Fargo Regional Training Center to Fargo North High School.
The torch run is part of a long-standing relationship between the Special Olympics and law enforcement across the county.
The run aims to raise awareness for Special Olympics North Dakota as well as the athletes that participate.
“It’s just a great cause,” said Fargo Police Lieutenant Nate Nieman. “I mean, it eans a lot to just be a part of that and support that.”
The 2026 Special Olympics North Dakota State Summer Games will be taking place this weekend.
Submitted Photo
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, spoke about the connection between North Dakota, the United States and Norway at the 12th annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference held April 17, where he delivered the congressional keynote address.
WASHINGTON – North Dakota’s deep Norwegian roots reflect the broad, long-standing relationship between the United States and Norway, one built on shared values, cultural ties and security cooperation.
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, spoke about the connection between the two countries at the 12th annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference held April 17, where he delivered the congressional keynote address.
He described the bond as historic and strategic, but also personal. His great-great-great grandfather, Erik Hjelden, fought in the Norwegian War of Independence prior to Norway adopting a constitution on May 17, 1814, Norway’s Independence Day known as Syttende Mai.
Starting in the 1870s, Scandinavian immigrants from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland settled across what is now North Dakota. Today, one-third of the state’s population is of Norwegian descent, and North Dakota has the highest percentage of citizens with Norwegian ancestry of any state in the nation.
“I love the theme of this year’s conference, ‘From Seabed to Space,’ because I do think the size of the country is not nearly as important as the dynamic that happens when one plus one equals more than two,” Cramer said. “At a time when there’s talent on the factory floor, and talent in the executive suites, and talent in the engineering room, that we may have one or the other, maybe all. But together the dynamic of it is so much greater.”
Cramer emphasized how this foundation now supports a modern defense partnership. He said the United States and Norway are working together on Arctic security, aiming to strengthen interoperability and improve readiness across multi-domain operations. This alliance plays a key role in addressing today’s international security challenges.
Cramer also recognized the U.S.-Norway partnership through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as the history between the two countries.
“When you look at a globe, it illustrates why the Arctic is so important,” continued Cramer. “None of us can protect our silo without protecting our country, without protecting our continent, without protecting our hemisphere, without protecting ourselves. We protect one another by protecting ourselves, and we protect ourselves by protecting one another.”
Throughout his years in Congress, Cramer has been active in the House and Senate Friends of Norway caucuses. He hosted former Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S. Anniken Krutnes when she visited North Dakota in 2024, highlighting the state’s Norwegian heritage, economic strength and its role in advancing U.S.-Norway defense and national security cooperation. During the visit, Krutnes and Cramer emphasized the importance of strong alliances and the longstanding partnership between the two nations during various community stops, including events at the Sons of Norway Kringen Lodge and First Lutheran Church. The visit also focused on defense priorities, with a briefing at the North Dakota National Guard’s 119th Wing regarding the mission of the “Happy Hooligans,” before concluding with a public reception ahead of the Fargo premiere of the Norwegian film Songs of Earth.
Memorial service at North Dakota State Capitol honors fallen officers
Kxnet.com
Welcome to the KXMB/KXMC YouTube channel, your home for all news, sports, and weather in western North Dakota. Subscribe to our channel for the latest information, breaking news, and weather updates.
Submit your photos, videos, and news tips to https://www.kxnet.com/report-it/. You can also message us on Facebook.
Visit KX News: https://www.kxnet.com/
Stream our shows here: https://www.kxnet.com/live-streaming/
Download our mobile app: https://www.kxnet.com/apps/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KXNewsND?sub_confirmation
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kxnews
X: https://twitter.com/kxmb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kx_news/
Get our new KXNews+ app on Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV. Learn more here: https://www.kxnet.com/kx-news-plus/
-
New York1 hour agoVideo: Long Island Rail Road Service Suspended as Workers Strike
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoL.A. Jewish institution among targets of foiled terrorist attack, U.S. officials say
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoDetroit Pistons release injury report ahead of Game 7 vs. Cavaliers
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSF pet store owners prepare to fight as city plots ban on sale of live animals
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoFC Dallas vs San Jose Earthquakes: Lineup notes 📝
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoMiami Dolphins Discussion: Media Perception Edition
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoMass General Brigham Sports Medicine provides free preseason physicals for Boston Public Schools – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoForget Denver, Retire To An Underrated Utah City Near Gorgeous Canyons Instead (And It’s Affordable) – Islands