Adding fuel to the fire... (the progesterone shot)

LuckyMom0203

Okay, I'm sorry to add a whole new post about this but I cannot get over my rage.  I found another article that I thought might be more enlightening about the outrageous price increase https://healthland.time.com/2011/03/10/can-patients-get-around-the-exorbitant-new-cost-of-a-pregnancy-drug/ . 

However, it was just more frustrating.  Allow me to highlight certain elements of the article...

"But first, why has a drug that has been used for decades suddenly become so expensive? Premature birth affects 1 in 8 pregnancies ? some 543,000 annual births ? resulting in intensive care and often lifelong disabilities in the child. It's responsible for $26 billion a year in medical expenses ? a figure KV cites to justify the new price of Makena."

Every article I've read about this gives this ridiculous BS answer and never challenges it.  Who are these reporters?  The question posed about why the drug has become so expensive was never answered!  The reason cited-- high cost of prematurity-- is true, but was also true last week when the drug cost $10!  I majored in Journalism in college and I feel like my college editor would have caught this faulty logic. 

Another reason this is a terrible answer is that it indicates that KV is using "value pricing," otherwise known as gouging.  They have a product that they know literally means life or death for some people so they can charge an exorbitant amount for it.  You admit to doing this when you effectively say, "It costs so much b/c it means so much to people" which, in my opinion, is exactly what they said. 

Another part I thought was interesting...

 

"'It's going to be prohibitively expensive for a lot of patients,'" says Dr. Robin Kalish, director of clinical maternal-fetal medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Hospital in Manhattan.  She adds that much of the research on the drug? including a major 2003 study showing that the drug cuts premature birth by one third in women carrying single pregnancies who'd previously had premature babies?was funded by the government."

Funded by the government!  Which means... no back research to pay for.  The work was done for them, they managed to secure a monopoly on this product and now will make millions off it.

 

Last but not least, I was shocked to learn that this was supported by March of Dimes... until I read this:

 

"The March of Dimes ? which has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from KV's subsidiary Ther-RX, which will market Makena ? supports the introduction of the new drug."

 

This ratcheted up my cynicism level about 100%. What the what???  So, ladies, I am sad to report that while my husband, daughter and I were going to raise money and do the March for Babies in April, we will no longer be supporting March of Dimes.  I'm so completely disappointed. 

 

Alright, if you've made it this far in my post, thank you for tolerating my rant.  Quietly stepping down off my soapbox now...

ShannonSky

Make sure you TELL MOD that you aren't doing the walk specifically due to their shady backing of KV on this. The whole thing just makes me want to run face-first into a wall. I am so worried for this baby, not only that he/she won't be able to get the 17P, but that pharmaceutical companies can and will willingly price us out of them when it's completely needless.

marcirubenstein

Is there any organization fighting this?  I have limited background knowledge, but I cannot fathom why this drug was being manufactured by many pharmacies is now only being allowed to be manufactured by ONE pharmacy who is planning on making a profit of over $1400 a WEEK for each patient.

 

 I am currently taking the P-17 shot and I have no choice but to continue taking it.  I am sure this feeds their greed.  They know that they can force people to sell their houses, cars, and other possessions to save their babies.

 

I am outraged to say the least.  Further, my insurance does not cover a penny of the cost.  It will all be out of pocket for me.  However made this decision will be killing millions of a babies a year because their parents cannot afford the 30K out of pocket medical treatment.