The Hill’s biggest health care battle you haven’t heard about

Susan Collins started the Senate’s Diabetes Caucus back in 1997, and her Democratic colleague Jeanne Shaheen has co-led it for more than a dozen years. So excuse them for being a little miffed right now.

The buttoned-up bipartisan duo from New England is waging an awkward battle over legislation to reduce insulin costs, as Senate leaders weigh another cross-aisle pair’s plan as an alternative. With insulin price caps promising to become one of Congress’ signature health care priorities this year — helping tens of millions of Americans along the way — Sens. Collins (R-Maine) and Shaheen (D-N.H.) are squaring off against an odd-couple Southern pair of prominent junior senators: Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and John Kennedy (R-La.).

Both crews want insulin costs capped at $35 monthly for people with diabetes, but that’s where the similarities end between their proposals.