A trio of bipartisan senators wants to know how badly the 400 percent price spike for EpiPens has hurt federal programs such as Medicare.
The senators wrote to Obama administration officials on Wednesday asking for more information on how the hike has increased costs for the federal government. The letter comes on the heels of federal data showing spending for Medicare Part D drugs increased by 17 percent from 2013 to 2014, despite only a 3 percent increase in claims.
The letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services asked for the average amount the agency has paid for EpiPen under Medicare Part D, the senior healthcare program’s prescription drug plan. It also asked for the average out-of-pocket costs for Part D beneficiaries.
The letter from Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also delves into the impact on other healthcare programs.
“We are interested to know how much states are paying for EpiPens through Medicaid and [Children’s Health Insurance Program],” the senators wrote.
Senators noted they heard from some states that EpiPens don’t fall under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, which would mean that states receive only a small rebate.
The letter also inquires about how much Medicare Part D pays for competitors Adrenaclick and Auvi-Q. The high price for EpiPen has led to questions from lawmakers about whether there is enough competition to create lower prices.
Drug maker Sanofi recalled Auvi-Q in October because of device malfunctions. Adrenaclick is a generic injector made by rival drug maker Impax and it is still on the market.
Mylan’s price of $600 for a two-pack of the allergy drug EpiPen has stirred outrage from lawmakers who have been railing over high drug prices for more than a year. The company agreed to create a cheaper version of the EpiPen that would cost $300 and to provide a $300 discount card for the regular EpiPen.
However, both moves have done little to sway lawmakers.
