Preemie birth preventive spikes from $10 to $1,500

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The price of preventing preterm labor is about to go through the roof.

A drug for high-risk pregnant women has cost about $10 to $20 per injection. Next week, the price shoots up to $1,500 a dose, meaning the total cost during a pregnancy could be as much as $30,000.

...

But recently, KV Pharmaceutical of suburban St.Louis won government approval to exclusively sell the drug, known as Makena (Mah-KEE'-Nah). The March of Dimes and many obstetricians supported that because it means quality will be more consistent and it will be easier to get.

None of them anticipated the dramatic price hike, though — especially since most of the cost for development and research was shouldered by others in the past.

"That's a huge increase for something that can't be costing them that much to make. For crying out loud, this is about making money," said Dr. Roger Snow, deputy medical director for Massachusetts' Medicaid program.

"I've never seen anything as outrageous as this," said Dr. Arnold Cohen, an obstetrician at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia.

"I'm breathless," said Dr. Joanne Armstrong, the head of women's health for Aetna, the Hartford-based national health insurer.

Doctors say the price hike may deter low-income women from getting the drug, leading to more premature births. And it will certainly be a huge financial burden for health insurance companies and government programs that have been paying for it.

The cost is justified to avoid the mental and physical disabilities that can come with very premature births, said KV Pharmaceutical chief executive Gregory J. Divis Jr. The cost of care for a preemie is estimated at $51,000 in the first year alone.

"Makena can help offset some of those costs," Divis told The Associated Press. "These moms deserve the opportunity to have the benefits of an FDA-approved Makena."

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/ap/us_med_premature_birth_drug

[chri'stina 190]

I read about this last week, and it made me mad. I didn't need the injections myself but have friends and acquaintances who have needed it before. Insane price jump. My c/s birth paid by my insurance was something around 30K when everything was added up! So now if I needed progesterone shots for a future pregnancy, it would freaking double the expense. For a previously $300 injection expense, the total cost if used for 20 weeks.

I read that the company will be giving discounts or assistance in getting the drug. What I read was those who have insurance and make under 100K would get it for possibly a $20 copay, if they qualify. Those making under 60K could possibly get it for free. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WomensHealth/price-preventing-premature-births-skyrockets-drug/story?id=13104588&page=3

So if they are willing to give these discounts, why are they jacking up the price? What a ripoff.

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... if they are willing to give these discounts, why are they jacking up the price? What a ripoff.

They're saying the product was previously underpriced.

The cost is justified to avoid the mental and physical disabilities that can come with very premature births, said KV Pharmaceutical chief executive Gregory J. Divis Jr. The cost of care for a preemie is estimated at $51,000 in the first year alone.

[chri'stina 190]

They're saying the product was previously underpriced.

The cost is justified to avoid the mental and physical disabilities that can come with very premature births, said KV Pharmaceutical chief executive Gregory J. Divis Jr. The cost of care for a preemie is estimated at $51,000 in the first year alone.

Of course they are saying that now that they have the exclusive rights to sell the drug(for 7 years I read). Raising the price 100 fold in some cases, hrmmm far from justified. One piece of good news is that I read that the suppository version can be bought for the lower price, however it's a daily insert(sometimes 2x a day) instead of a weekly shot. I can't find the exact link.