Price hike for Epi-pens shocks local residents
When his pharmacist told him he owed
"I was at home watching TV, and my throat started swelling up,"
Struggling to breathe, he called an ambulance, which rushed him to an area hospital where staffers quickly got his symptoms under control. It was a close call,
"It's the worst thing I ever experienced in my life,"
His is a story health care officials fear will become increasingly common as patients struggle to pay the skyrocketing cost of EpiPens, a device that injects medicine that rapidly treats severe and potentially life-threatening symptoms triggered by allergies. Sold in packs of two, the device's cost increased from about
"I think its ridiculous to raise the price like this. This is a life-saving medication I prescribe almost daily," said
The device, marketed by Mylan pharmaceuticals, is used in an emergency to treat a severe and often unexpected allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, including swelling of the throat that can obstruct breathing. Common triggers include bee stings and food allergies.
The EpiPen injects a small dose of epinephrine, a medicine that quickly combats the allergic reaction. Those at risk usually purchase multiple pens to carry with them and to keep at work or school. They expire after one year.
For many people, the medication is covered by insurance. Those without insurance or with high deductible plans are left with a tough choice: pay or risk being without the potentially life-saving device.
"My concern is, if it's too expensive, people are not going to get it,"
Critics have blasted Mylan for the price hikes, noting that it cost about
"It's simply predatory pricing," said
The sharp spike in price got the attention of
"It's a free market," she said. "We do not have a system of regulating prices in
Under increasing pressure, Mylan's chief executive officer,
on its website, Mylan also notes it has provided 700,000 EpiPens free of charge to school districts nationwide since 2012 and that it offers a
"It's scary when you don't know," he said.
Prior to Tuesday's incident, his allergic reaction was relatively minor and he was able to effectively treat it by taking an antihistamine. The severity of the latest attack convinced him he needs to have an EpiPen, regardless of the cost.
Fortunately when he went to his pharmacist on Wednesday, he learned he had met his deductible due to other medical costs, so he was responsible only for a
"I just got the property tax and insurance bill in the mail. If this was still
Concern is particularly high for school children, whose parents typically must purchase multiple injectors to keep at home and school.
Under her insurance, the co-pay for all six pens is just
"If I had to pay the full price, I can't even imagine what I would do," she said.
One option for consumers seeking to reduce their cost is Adrenaclick, a generic version of the EpiPen marketed by Amedra pharmaceuticals. The devices operate differently, but both provide injections of epinephrine.
"Something needs to be done. I don't know what or how to fix it," she said. "I just wish medicines were affordable and people did not have to make a decision: do I eat today or get my medicine?"
Contact the writer: [email protected], @tbeseckerTT on Twitter
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