Mylan’s Offer Of EpiPen Discounts Meets With Criticism
Critics reacted by pointing out that the company did not lower the list price of the EpiPen, which has risen to $600 for a pack of two from about $100 in 2007. Many experts also said the company's move to provide "savings cards" was more of a public relations move that wouldn't have much overall impact.
The Wall Street Journal:
Mylan Reacts To EpiPen Backlash
Mylan NV raced Thursday to counter a firestorm of criticism over its pricing of lifesaving EpiPens, saying it would help more patients cover their out-of-pocket costs. But the drugmaker didn’t lower the list price, and its stranglehold on the market means it is unlikely to face competitive pressure to do so. (Rockoff, 8/25)
The New York Times:
Mylan To Offer Some Patients Aid On Cost Of EpiPens
But the moves did not mollify critics of Mylan because the company did not lower the list price of the EpiPen, which has risen to $600 for a pack of two from about $100 in 2007. So the total cost to the health system, a cost borne largely by insurers, the federal government and school districts, will remain the same. (Pollack, 8/25)
The Washington Post:
Why Mylan’s ‘Savings Card’ Won’t Make EpiPen Cheaper For All Patients
Although the company said that the savings card would halve the cost of the drug to commercially insured patients who pay full price, outside experts said the overall impact will likely be small and that it did not amount to a solution to the broader problem. Such savings cards are a classic public relations move by the pharmaceutical industry, said Harvard Medical School professor Aaron Kesselheim, and it will only be used by a fraction of the people who need the drug. For example, such savings cards are illegal in government health programs such as Medicaid. (Johnson, 8/25)
NPR:
EpiPen Manufacturer Offers A Discount, But Critics Aren't Soothed
The device's manufacturer, Mylan NV, announced Thursday that it will offer coupons worth as much as $300 off a two-pack. The move is a reaction to harsh criticism from consumers and several lawmakers over repeated price increases that have boosted the cost of the medication to more than $600 from less than $100 just a few years ago. ... But coupons may not be enough to tamp down anger over the price hikes. (Kodjak, 8/25)
The Hill:
EpiPen Maker Lowers Price After Uproar
The maker of EpiPens announced Thursday that it is reducing the price of the device following an uproar in Washington over the cost of the treatment for serious allergic reactions. Mylan, the company that makes EpiPen, said it will provide a savings card worth up to $300 for people who had been paying the full price out-of-pocket, effectively reducing the cost by 50 percent. The company is also making it easier to qualify for its patient assistance program, which eliminates out-of-pocket costs for uninsured and underinsured people. (Sullivan, 8/25)
The Star Tribune:
EpiPen Manufacturer Says It Will Offer New Discounts On The Product
Mylan, the embattled drug company whose price hikes of an anti-allergy product sparked calls for a government investigation and a congressional hearing has announced plans to broaden discounts offered to consumers on its EpiPen. The company said Thursday that it will increase the value of a savings coupon offered on an epinephrine auto injector to $300 from $100 and double the eligibility for subsidies that eliminate out-of-pocket costs to uninsured or underinsured patients. (Spencer, 8/25)
Marketplace:
Mylan Says Raising EpiPen Price 500% Isn't The Problem
Today the CEO of Mylan responded to the uproar over her company's price increases for EpiPens, the life-saving anti-allergy injectors. A pack of two EpiPens now costs $600, up from $100 in 2007. CEO Heather Bresch said Mylan will offer more financial assistance to help people pay their out-of-pocket costs — the piece that health insurance doesn't cover. But she did not offer to take back any of the price increases. Instead, Mylan blames rising health care premiums and deductibles. But Robert Weissman, president of the watchdog group Public Citizen, says that’s not it at all. “The problem is that Mylan has jacked up their price,” he said. (Douban, 8/25)
