OMAHA, Neb. -- Food pantries in Nebraska already stretched thin before the COVID-19 health emergency are getting new fuel for their efforts to meet the nutrition needs of families impacted by the pandemic's economic fallout.

Mike Hornacek, president of the Omaha group Together, says thanks to a new grant, more than 30 new garden beds and a new delivery program will connect struggling residents in quarantine or lockdown with fresh produce.

"And for the people in our community that these home deliveries are going to, because a lot of them do have potentially underlying health conditions," says Hornacek, "the more nutritious food that we can provide is better for their health."

In addition to keeping food pantry shelves stocked, expanding community gardens and delivering food, Together will use the new funds, totaling $355,000, to transform nutrition and cooking classes -- put on hold for safe social distancing -- into online video courses.

Hornacek says people in Nebraska have a strong work ethic, and before the pandemic most people seeking assistance were employed, but at low-wage jobs. Hornacek notes Nebraska ranks near the top nationally in the number of people working multiple jobs still struggling to make ends meet.

He says an unexpectedly high utility bill or car repair is all it takes to fall behind.

"In Omaha, you have roughly 300,000 households in the greater metropolitan area," says Hornacek. "About 72,000 of those earn less than $25,000 a year as a household."

In 2019, Hornacek's group helped 42,000 Nebraskans stretch their food budgets. Hornacek says more than 60,000 have gotten help in the past four months.

Together is one of four community-based groups in Nebraska selected to receive a total of $1 million in grant money from UnitedHealthcare. More information on how individuals and businesses can support the group's work is available at togetheromaha.org.


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Nearly one million Ohioans have been diagnosed with diabetes, but the cost of insulin continues to be a barrier for people needing the medication.

Policy Matters Ohio Budget, Health and Child Care Researcher Kathryn Poe said the cost of insulin can reach hundreds of dollars - but with insurance the range is on average $50 to $80, not including the cost of supplies.

Poe said the increasing cost of the medication, especially over the past decade, has been driven by the three pharmaceutical companies that control the market: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.

"We have a situation where only three companies are able to control basically the global supply of insulin," said Poe. "And in the United States, where there aren't proper checks and balances to regulate these companies, that means that there are unaffordable costs."

Researchers from Yale University found that among people who use insulin, nearly 1.2 million were financially burdened by their health-care spending over the course of a year.

A bipartisan bill filed earlier this year by state House lawmakers would cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin.

Poe says if passed, Ohio would follow other states that have passed insulin-affordability legislation that caps the cost of copays at around $35 for people with insurance.

"The one that's currently introduced in the Legislature, HB 384, actually caps the cost of supplies as well," said Poe, "which is really, really important."

While the Inflation Reduction Act capped out-of-pocket insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries, Poe points out that more than 70% of adults nationwide who reported rationing insulin don't qualify.

It's estimated one in five adults younger than 65 limit their use of the medication because of cost.

"The high cost of the actual drug combined with the high cost of supplies has really made this crisis something that definitely kills people," said Poe. "People have lost their lives over this crisis."

But she added that for those with prescriptions who can afford it, they do have access to an emergency supply if they can't get to a doctor in time to refill.

In 2022, Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law that allows patients to receive up to three emergency refills of life-saving medication within a year without a prescription.

Failing to dispense the drug could result in harm to their health.

This story was produced in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.




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Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed legislation making prescription drugs more affordable. The bill would have created an independent body to evaluate drug prices and determine if increases are reasonable.

Surveys show the issue has support across party lines in the state.

Jared Calfee, state advocacy director for AARP Virginia, is disappointed the bill was vetoed. He said people are taking drastic action to afford their medicine.

"They are struggling to afford their medication," Calfee observed. "They're skipping doses or cutting pills in half, and rationing things like that to stretch out their medicine as long as they can. Those people were really looking for something to get done and now, now that's not going to happen this year."

The General Assembly has the power to override the veto, but not necessarily the votes. The biggest opposition to the bill was from pharmaceutical companies, which said it would hinder research and development. A 2022 report found Stelara, used to reduce inflammation in conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is the most expensive drug in the state, costing almost $23,000 per dose.

Calfee is confident the General Assembly will take up the bill again next year and feels it has enough momentum to get through both chambers. Now it depends on swaying Youngkin. Calfee argued drug companies cannot keep charging high prices.

"There's no not laughable way for them to justify some of these drug prices and what they're charging for medications, and just the way that they have increased prices year over year," Calfee contended. "Patients who need these drugs to survive are just going to be stuck paying whatever they want to charge for them."

Currently, 11 states have some form of affordability review for prescription drugs, although similar legislation is being considered in several other states.

This week, groups fighting for health equity known as the Health4All campaign are asking the California Legislature to remove barriers to the "Covered C-A" health insurance marketplace based on immigration status.

Assembly Bill 4 and a budget action would pave the way.

Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, said right now, 520,000 undocumented Californians who do not get insurance at work should have access to subsidized plans under Covered California.

"They're left uninsured simply because they earn too much to qualify for Medi-Cal, even if it's by only a few dollars," Durazo explained. "They are still in a position where they have to choose between the health care they need or putting food on the table, or paying rent."

State lawmakers have expanded Medi-Cal in stages over the past 10 years to cover all low-income undocumented people. However, a family of four on Medi-Cal can only earn just over $43,000 a year and undocumented families are currently excluded from Covered California under the Affordable Care Act.

Carlos Alarcón, health and public benefits policy analyst at the California Immigrant Policy Center, part of the Health4All campaign, argued it is important to set up an easy way to shop for coverage.

"We're asking the Legislature to invest in establishing a separate health care market exchange, where all Californians, regardless of their immigration status, would be able to safely shop and compare for health care plans," Alarcón outlined. "Maybe down the line, provide these folks with the affordability assistance that they would need."

The coalition is asking the Legislature for at least $15 million to build out the mirror marketplace. However, detractors are concerned about adding to California's budget shortfall. Advocates also gave public comment on Monday in a subcommittee of the Assembly considering health care budget issues.


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