In a tragic incident that has sparked national concern, 22-year-old Cole Schmidtknecht from Wisconsin died following a severe asthma attack after being unable to afford his inhaler due to a significant price increase. His family has filed a federal lawsuit against OptumRx Inc., a pharmacy benefits manager, and Walgreens Pharmacy, alleging negligence and failure to provide adequate notice of the medication’s price hike.
Schmidtknecht had been managing his chronic asthma with a daily Advair Diskus inhaler for over a decade, with costs ranging between $35 and $66.86. In 2023, OptumRx reclassified the inhaler under its formulary, resulting in the medication no longer being covered by insurance and its price soaring to $539.19. Faced with the dilemma of paying for his medication or covering his rent, Schmidtknecht chose the latter. He struggled with breathing difficulties for five days before suffering a fatal asthma attack on January 15, 2024.
The lawsuit alleges that OptumRx failed to provide the required 30-day notice about the medication’s reclassification and price increase, denying Schmidtknecht the opportunity to seek an exception or alternative treatment. It also claims that Walgreens neglected its duty to inform patients of such critical changes. The family’s attorney stated, “The conduct of both OptumRx and Walgreens was deplorable. The evidence in this case will show that both OptumRx and Walgreens put profits first, and are directly responsible for Cole’s death.”
This case highlights broader issues within the U.S. healthcare system, particularly concerning drug pricing and insurance policies. The significant increase in medication costs has made essential treatments unaffordable for many, leading to severe health consequences.
The situation resonates globally, with similar challenges observed in countries like Nigeria. In Nigeria, asthma patients have faced a staggering 450% increase in inhaler prices due to factors such as foreign exchange scarcity and the exit of major pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline. This has led to a scarcity of essential medications and forced patients to seek less effective or unregulated alternatives, further endangering their health.
The tragic death of Cole Schmidtknecht underscores the critical need for systemic reforms to ensure that life-saving medications remain accessible and affordable to all who need them.
