A young man’s life was tragically cut short when the price of his asthma medication skyrocketed overnight, leaving his family devastated and seeking justice through a federal lawsuit.
Key Takeaways
- Wisconsin parents are suing Walgreens and OptumRx over their son’s death due to an unaffordable asthma medication price increase.
- The lawsuit claims OptumRx violated state law by raising the medication price without valid reason or proper notice.
- Cole Schmidtknecht, 22, died from an asthma attack after being unable to afford his daily inhaler when the price jumped from $66 to $539.
- The case highlights broader issues of pharmaceutical pricing practices and access to essential medications.
- Both companies are accused of prioritizing profits over patient care, raising questions about ethical responsibilities in healthcare.
A Deadly Price Hike
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a Wisconsin couple is taking legal action against Walgreens and OptumRx following the untimely death of their 22-year-old son, Cole Schmidtknecht. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Milwaukee on January 21, 2025, alleges that an astronomical price increase in Cole’s essential asthma medication directly contributed to his passing. This case has ignited a firestorm of controversy surrounding the ethics of pharmaceutical pricing and the role of pharmacy benefit managers in our healthcare system.
Cole had managed his lifelong asthma with daily doses of Advair Diskus and its generic equivalents. However, on January 10, 2024, he was blindsided at his local Walgreens pharmacy when informed that the cost of his medication had surged from $66 to an eye-watering $539. Unable to afford this sudden increase, Cole was forced to rely solely on a rescue inhaler, a decision that would prove fatal just days later when he suffered a severe asthma attack.
Legal Battle Unfolds
The lawsuit levels serious accusations against both OptumRx and Walgreens. OptumRx, a pharmacy benefits manager, is alleged to have violated Wisconsin law by implementing the price hike without valid justification and failing to provide the required 30-day notice. Walgreens, on the other hand, is accused of neglecting to offer Cole alternatives or seek exceptions from OptumRx or his doctor.
“The conduct of both OptumRx and Walgreens was deplorable,” one of the family’s attorneys, Michael Trunk, said in a statement. “The evidence in this case will show that both OptumRx and Walgreens put profits first, and are directly responsible for Cole’s death.” – Source
This statement encapsulates the core of the family’s grievance – that corporate greed and bureaucratic indifference led to a preventable tragedy. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, but more importantly, it aims to shed light on a healthcare system that often seems to prioritize profits over patient well-being.
Corporate Response and Contradictions
In response to the allegations, OptumRx has claimed that their actions were “consistent with industry practice and the patient’s insurance plan design.” This sterile, corporate response does little to address the human cost of their policies and raises questions about the ethics of an industry that considers such drastic price increases “consistent with practice.”
“consistent with industry practice and the patient’s insurance plan design,” the company said.
OptumRx also stated that Cole purchased a generic Albuterol inhaler for a $5 co-pay on the day of his pharmacy visit. However, the family’s attorney clarified that this was a rescue inhaler, not the daily Advair Diskus inhaler Cole needed to manage his condition effectively. This discrepancy highlights the critical difference between preventative care and emergency treatment – a distinction that can mean the difference between life and death for patients with chronic conditions.
Broader Implications
This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the dire consequences that can result from our current healthcare system’s shortcomings. It raises pressing questions about the role and responsibilities of pharmacy benefit managers, who act as intermediaries between health insurance companies, drug manufacturers, and pharmacies. Are these entities, which were ostensibly created to help manage costs, now contributing to the very problem they were meant to solve?
Moreover, this lawsuit shines a spotlight on the broader issue of medication affordability in America. When a young man can lose his life because he can’t afford a medication he’s relied on for years, it’s clear that our system is fundamentally broken. The sudden, massive price increase that Cole faced is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a larger problem that affects millions of Americans struggling to afford their prescriptions.
As this case moves through the legal system, it will undoubtedly fuel ongoing debates about healthcare reform, drug pricing transparency, and the ethical obligations of pharmaceutical companies and their intermediaries. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how we approach healthcare policy and regulation in the future.
In the meantime, Cole Schmidtknecht’s story serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of our current system. It’s a call to action for policymakers, healthcare providers, and citizens alike to demand better – because no one should lose their life simply because they can’t afford the medication they need to survive.
Sources:
- Wisconsin couple sues Walgreens and Optum Rx, saying son died after $500 price rise for asthma meds
- Wisconsin couple sues Walgreens and Optum Rx, saying son died after $500 price rise for asthma meds
