Company hikes price 5,000% for drug that fights complication of AIDS, cancer

[Turbo3000]

People will absolutely be effected by this. Insured or uninsured increased cost on that level will make an impact.

OK, I forgot that you are all knowing.

[FitnessBrat]

How does this not cost people with insurance? If the total cost goes up because its so much higher. Using FB's example if the bill is 10k you pay 2k with insurance. But if that bill goes up to 50k for the same treatment then you would have to pay 10k. So going from 2k to 10k is not costing anyone anything to you?

I was saying pharmaceuticals DON'T generally work that way. You don't pay xyz percentage. You pay a flat $25 a bottle for example - IF you have insurance. So if you have spectacular insurance and they want to pay the new price of $750 a pill for you, it does not change anything at all for you. If they say no, we won't pay for that drug, but we'll pay for this one instead (which happens OFTEN), then it will be up to you to decide.

[FitnessBrat]

I think that Turbo is saying - this isn't a newsflash. This IS the healthcare system. This is what happens in every corner of it. You just don't know it because you never had a reason to. You're only hearing about it because the guy is ridiculous, not because the drug is expensive. All new drugs are expensive.

[Turbo3000]

I think that Turbo is saying - this isn't a newsflash. This IS the healthcare system. This is what happens in every corner of it. You just don't know it because you never had a reason to. You're only hearing about it because the guy is ridiculous, not because the drug is expensive. All new drugs are expensive.

Thank you FB. Bouncer seems to think that healthcare and drug costs are as simple as eggs and milk.

The media called this guy and realized he was great for ratings. He is an asshole. Other treatment options will be used and he will eventually lower his price or let his product sit on the shelf.

[Bouncer]

Fb why do you keep emphasizing the word "excellent" when you say excellent insurance? What about average insurance, what about crappy insurance?

[Turbo3000]

Fb why do you keep emphasizing the word "excellent" when you say excellent insurance? What about average insurance, what about crappy insurance?

Same scenario. They will either cover it or not. Copay may increase, if you much for patient then change to Bactrim which is cheap.

[Bouncer]

Ok, so I get that new drugs are expensive because of R&D etc.. But this particular case isn't like that. It's not common for a drug to jump from $13.50 for decades to $750. That's why I feel like the media is covering it. It's an exceptional case. Why does that make them the bad guy in this?

And what about the people who's insurance will no longer cover this drug but it just happens to be the best drug for them specifically. I get that there is other drugs but as we all know different drugs work differently for different people.

I guess what I don't like about your guys attitude in this is that it feels like to me that your saying its not an issue and nobody will be effected.

[Turbo3000]

Ok, so I get that new drugs are expensive because of R&D etc.. But this particular case isn't like that. It's not common for a drug to jump from $13.50 for decades to $750. That's why I feel like the media is covering it. It's an exceptional case. Why does that make them the bad guy in this?

And what about the people who's insurance will no longer cover this drug but it just happens to be the best drug for them specifically. I get that there is other drugs but as we all know different drugs work differently for different people.

I guess what I don't like about your guys attitude in this is that it feels like to me that your saying its not an issue and nobody will be effected.

It isn't a maintenance medication. The toxo will be treated with other medications. Remember that this is a complication of HIV.

I'm just giving you facts, I'm sorry it isn't the story you expected.

[Turbo3000]

I'm done with this. You don't like factual answers from people that work in healthcare.

[Bouncer]

No its your attitude I don't like. It's an exceptional case that the media has every right and should cover. Blows my mind that you focus on the media aspect of it in the first place.

I appreciate the facts but the way in which you give them would get you a slap in the mouth if we weren't internet warriors. :)

[Bouncer]

BOOM!

Patient advocacy groups say Turing's action with Daraprim has put an unjustifiable burden on patients and create unsustainable costs for the health system at large.

The price increase, which took place in August, has already had a chilling effect on the small patient population affected. A joint letter from the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the HIV Medicine Association wrote that hospitals and pharmacies are no longer able to stock the medication. They also calculate that year-long treatment for toxoplasmosis will now cost $336,000 for those who weigh less than 132 pounds, and $634,500 for those who weigh more than that.

'IT'S CLEARLY THE BEST DRUG.'
In all, only 2,000 Americans use Daraprim every year, noted Bloomberg. While toxoplasmosis affects an estimated 22.5 percent of Americans over the age of 12, typically only people with immune systems weakened by HIV/AIDS, cancer treatment, organ transplants or pregnancy need the medication.

Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert and professor at Emory School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health, says that this new pricing places additional barriers between toxoplasmosis patients and the best kind of medicine to treat it. While there are other, second-line drugs that hospitals will likely use instead of Daraprim, they’re not what he would want for himself.

"It’s clearly the best drug," del Rio told The Huffington Post. "If I had toxo, I’d want to get Daraprim."

What The Daraprim Price Hike Actually Does To Health Care

[Bouncer]

So to put it simply. Daraprim appears to be the best drug to treat toxo. The price increase means some people may be forced to use something else that isn't as effective...

But yea turbo.. "this wont effect anyone and it happens all the time, and its the shit media blowing this out of proportion" attitude is clearly justified in the case... You dildo. :)

[FitnessBrat]

Fb why do you keep emphasizing the word "excellent" when you say excellent insurance? What about average insurance, what about crappy insurance?

Because you keep insisting that people with insurance are also suffering. There are many levels of insurance, so I will not even remotely attempt to go there. Some insurance doesn't cover prescriptions, some makes you meet such a ridiculous deductible that you may as well not even have any insurance, and some is fantastic. I'm basically speaking on a "if you have a good insurance plan" when I say you're rx copay is xyz dollars, and it doesn't matter if the pill is $75 or $750. If you don't have insurance, well then yeah, there is a huge difference between $75 and $750.

[FitnessBrat]

Ok, so I get that new drugs are expensive because of R&D etc.. But this particular case isn't like that. It's not common for a drug to jump from $13.50 for decades to $750. That's why I feel like the media is covering it. It's an exceptional case. Why does that make them the bad guy in this?

And what about the people who's insurance will no longer cover this drug but it just happens to be the best drug for them specifically. I get that there is other drugs but as we all know different drugs work differently for different people.

I guess what I don't like about your guys attitude in this is that it feels like to me that your saying its not an issue and nobody will be effected.

You guys? I don't think anyone has an attitude at all. We are telling it like it is, you just don't like that that's how it is. Unfortunately for all of us, these are also not OUR policies. :dunno:

[Bouncer]

Because you keep insisting that people with insurance are also suffering. There are many levels of insurance, so I will not even remotely attempt to go there. Some insurance doesn't cover prescriptions, some makes you meet such a ridiculous deductible that you may as well not even have any insurance, and some is fantastic. I'm basically speaking on a "if you have a good insurance plan" when I say you're rx copay is xyz dollars, and it doesn't matter if the pill is $75 or $750. If you don't have insurance, well then yeah, there is a huge difference between $75 and $750.

Ok, understood. I guess my question is more about making a clear point to turbo that his "i work in health care so I know all" attitude is simply wrong. To pretend that people wont be effected by this is ridiculous. Not everyone has amazing insurance. Some people have average and crappy insurance, some people have no insurance. In any case, increasing the cost by such an extraordinary amount WILL AND DOES have an effect.

P.S. I am not insisting that EVERYONE with insurance is suffering. I am insisting that SOME may be suffering and this that move is effecting people!