Parents of children with severe allergies can breathe a sigh of relief, as the drug company Mylan has announced it is taking immediate action to increase access to the EpiPen.
This news comes in the wake of public outrage over a 400-percent hike in cost for the life-saving syringe. In a news release, Mylan outlined steps that have been taken so far:
• The company is offering a savings card for up to $300, which helps patients who face higher out-of-pocket costs because of their health plans. This will reduce the cost by 50 percent for patients who would have otherwise paid the full list price for an EpiPen Auto-Injector.
• Mylan is now doubling eligibility for its patient assistance program to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. (For example, a family of four making $97,200 would be nothing out of pocket for a EpiPen Auto-Injector.)
• Mylan will continue to offer the EpiPen4Schools program. This program has provided more than 700,000 free epinephrine auto-injectors and educational resources to more than 65,000 schools nationwide to help them be prepared for anaphylaxis events among students.
• Mylan also is opening a pathway so patients can order EpiPen Auto-Injector directly from the company, which reduces the cost.
“We have been a long-term, committed partner to the allergy community and are taking immediate action to help ensure that everyone who needs an EpiPen Auto-Injector gets one,” Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said, in the news release. “We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines at the pharmacy counter. Patients deserve increased price transparency and affordable care, particularly as the system shifts significant costs to them.”
Click here to read the news release in its entirety.
Featured photo via Flickr/Greg Friese
What do you think about Mylan’s reaction to the backlash on its skyrocketing EpiPen prices?
Share your thoughts!