The high Cost of Insulin
Many patients are finding themselves unable to afford insulin, they must make a choice between buying groceries or insulin. As a follow up to my blog the High Cost of Insulin , the human cost of insulin. NBC News (8/15) reported on patients rationing insulin and leading to death. One of my favorite bogs also addressed this topic, E&M Blogosphere . In the article Hyma Gogineni, Pharm. D, MSc, BCACP, TTS, talks about why the high cost and list available programs that both insured, and uninsured can use to help afford insulin.
Recently USA today published an article calling for free medications for those who need it and can not afford it. This is a growing problem that is only getting worst. In January the New York Times wrote an article about drug makers accused of fixing insulin prices, that lead to a law suit. It seems like everyone from manufacturers, PBM and all middle players are getting rich while the neediest patients go without much needed insulin as reported by PBS news hour.
President Trump promised to lower prices of high cost medications as reported by AARP and Bloomberg. We are still waiting for something to be done about high price medicines. Many practitioners have taken to petition state and federal law makers to curtail the cost of much needed medicines but not much has been accomplished. Meanwhile, many patients find themselves going without or rationing insulin to last them longer leading to many complications and in some cases as reported above to death.
Biosimilar
Two biosimilars recently approved with lower prices but still too high for patients to afford. Basaglar a biosimilar to Lantus and Admelog biosimilar to Humalog. Whole sale prices of $348.78 for 15 milliliters (5 pens) of Basaglar and $251.83 for 10 milliliters of Humalog. Compared to Lantus price $430.14 and Humalog $294.85, the difference is not much. These biosimilars (almost an identical copy of an original product) are still too expensive for needy patients to afford.
Rightcare Alliance a petition directed to manufacturers to help patients afford insulin.
The Story behind Rightcare Alliance was reported on WBUR, A Mother’s Day Message To Pharma: Lower Your Insulin Prices. Many more petitions can be found and many more tragic stories. Contact your senators and congress representatives and tell them make insulin affordable.
Sign the ADA’s petition
The American Diabetes Association has set an online petition to make insulin affordable: Sign the petition now.
