PAUL VAN OSDOL HERE WITH THE
STORY.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING.
REPORTER: A LAWSUIT FILED LAST
MONTH TARGET THE DRUG COMPANIES
THAT MAKE INSULIN AS WELL AS THE
MIDDLEMAN WHO MAKES THE DRUGS.
IT IS HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON
PEOPLE IN OUR AREA TO RELY ON
INSULIN TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND
IN SOME CASES KEEP THEM ALIVE.
>> IT GOES ON MY SKIN, LIKE
THIS.
REPORTER: LESLIE OF SWISSVALE
USES PODS LIKE THIS ONE TO GIVE
HER A STEADY DOZE OF INSULIN.
SHE HAS TYPE I DIABETES.
WITHOUT INCIDENT SHE WOULD DIE.
>> I USE ONE TO TWO VIALS A
MONTH, ONE OF THESE VIALS COSTS
$250 BEFORE MY DEDUCTIBLE.
REPORTER: THAT'S RIGHT.
$250 PER VIAL.
HERE IS A RECEIPT FROM LAST YEAR
SHOWING LESLIE'S CO-PAY OF $921
FOR A THREE-MONTH SUPPLY OF
INSULIN.
WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THAT COST
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
>> I WAS LIKE, REALLY?
THIS IS A LIFE-SAVING DRUG AND I
HAVE NO OTHER OPTION, AND THE
COST IS JUST RIDICULOUS.
REPORTER: A DOCTOR WHO TREATS
DIABETES PATIENTS HEARS STORIES
LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME.
>> IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING,
BECAUSE FOR SOME PEOPLE THE ONLY
WAY TO CONTROL THEIR BLOOD
SUGARS IS THROUGH INSULIN AND
THAT THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.
REPORTER: EARNEST NEAL SAYS SOME
OF HIS INSULIN IS SUBSIDIZED.
BUT THE $50 A MONTH HE HAS TO
PAY COMBINED WITH OTHER
MEDICATION COSTS IS STILL A
MAJOR BURDEN FOR A RETIREE
LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT?
>> SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY FOR FOOD.
AND IT'S JUST AWFUL.
REPORTER: DOES IT GET TO THE
POINT WHERE PEOPLE LITERALLY ARE
DECIDING BETWEEN GROCERIES AND
INSULIN?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
REPORTER: IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE
THIS, RECORDS SHOW THE COST OF
SOME INSULIN DRUGS SHOT UP BY
170% IN JUST 19 MONTHS.
EXPERTS TELL ME THAT 20 YEARS
AGO A VIAL OF INSULIN COSTS JUST
ONE TENTH THE PRICE OF WHAT
YOU'D HAVE TO PAY TODAY.
>> YOU CAN PAY ANYWHERE FROM 250
FOR THAT SAME VIAL THAT COST $24
IN 1996, TO WELL OVER 300.
REPORTER: THIS DOCTOR IS ALSO A
TYPE I DIABETIC WHO HAS STUDIED
THE PRICE OF INSULIN.
>> WE HAVE PATIENTS TELLING US
THEY ARE PAYING MORE FOR THEIR
INSULIN THAN THEIR MORTGAGE.
REPORTER: THREE COMPANIES
DOMINATE THE INSULIN MARKET.
THE COMPANIES TELL ACTION NEWS
INVESTIGATES THEY ARE COMMITTED
TO REDUCING THE COST OF INSULIN,
AND THEY OFFER ASSISTANCE FOR
PATIENTS WHO QUALIFY.
BUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED
LAST MONTH ACCUSES THE DRUG
COMPANIES OF PLAYING A CALLOUS,
GREED-INSPIRED REBATE GAME WITH
PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS OR
BMS' WHO ACT AS MIDDLE MEN WITH
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
THE SUIT NAMES THE THREE INSULIN
COMPANIES AND THE PMS'.
IT SAYS THEY SELL THE DRUG
COMPANIES ACCESS TO THEIR
PATIENTS BY DEMANDING HIGHER
DRUG PRICES IN THE FORM OF
REBATES.
THE LAWSUIT SAYS THE REBATE GAME
HAS RESULTED IN INSULIN LIST
PRICES GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
THE DRUG COMPANIES AND THE BPM'S
DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS.
THE DOCTOR SAYS THE PBM'S
DESERVE FOR SCRUTINY ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE HE SAYS THEY ARE PUSHING
UP THE COST OF OTHER DRUGS
BESIDES INSULIN.
>> THESE MIDDLE MEN ARE REALLY
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY
INSULIN, AND FOR THAT MANY OF
THE MEDICATIONS HAVE INCREASED
TO WHERE THEY ARE, WHERE PEOPLE
CAN'T AFFORD THEM.
REPORTER: SOME DIABETES PATIENTS
LIKE LILLIAN BLACK ACTUALLY
STOPPED TAKING INSULIN.
WHY DID YOU GO OFF THE --
>> THE COST.
IT WAS TOO MUCH.
REPORTER: BUT HER DOCTOR
CONVINCED HERSHEY NEEDED TO BE
ON INSULIN SO SHE IS CUTTING
BACK ON HER EXPENSES.
>> IT'S $150 AND I'M GOING TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD IT, I'M GOING TO
MAKE MYSELF AFFORD IT.
REPORTER: THERE IS AN
ALTERNATIVE, OLDER VERSIONS OF
INSULIN AVAILABLE FOR AS LITTLE
AS $25 A VIAL BUT DOCTORS SAY
THEY ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THE
NEWER DRUGS.
>> THEY ARE JUST GOING BACK TO
INFERIOR TYPES OF INSULIN THAT
STILL WORK BUT THERE IS MORE
HIGH AND LOW BLOOD SUGARS.
REPORTER: PEOPLE WITH DIABETES
SAY THEY DESERVE QUALITY
MEDICINES THAT DON'T FORCE THEM
TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CONTROLLING
THEIR DISEASE AND EATING.
>> I JUST -- I WISH THEY WOULD
MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED HELP.
REPORTER: ANOTHER OPTION FOR
PATIENTS, GO TO CANADA.
I'M TOLD INSULIN THAT COSTS $250
HERE CAN BE BOUGHT IN CANADA FOR
AS LITTLE AS $25.
THAT IS TECHNICALLY ILLEGAL BUT
SOME PEOPLE ARE DOING IT ANYWAY.
TWO U.S. SENATORS HAVE CALLED
FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO
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