Latest news with #Bil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Parents sue over son's asthma death days after inhaler price soared without warning
When 22-year-old Cole Schmidtknecht tried to get a refill on the inhaler prescribed by his doctor to prevent asthma attacks. The medication that had formerly cost him less than $70 at his Appleton, Wisconsin pharmacy was now priced at more than $500, according to Cole's father, Bil Schmidtknecht. Stunned, Cole left the store with a medication designed to stop asthma attacks once they start, but without the Advair Diskus inhaler he needed to prevent attacks from happening in the first place. Five days after his pharmacy visit last year, Cole had a severe asthma attack, stopped breathing and collapsed. He never regained consciousness and died. Doctors attributed his death to asthma. His parents, Bil and Shanon Schmidtknecht, blame what they say is a dysfunctional system where medications can change in price overnight and without notice. A part of the insurance system that many Americans don't know about was responsible for the spike in Cole's inhaler price. Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are the middlemen that control behind the scenes which drugs will be on an insurance company's list of covered medications (called its formulary). They add or subtract medications through a process that emphasizes profits for the pharmacy benefit manager by way of 'rebates' from drug makers, said Gerard Anderson, a professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. PBMs 'are looking for the drug that makes them the most money,' Andersen said 'It's insane that it's happening in America,' Bil Schmidknecht said. 'It's not broken. It's designed to work this way. It's just hurting us.' The Schmidtknechts are pushing for legislation that would require a 90-day warning when an insurance company's formulary is changed. They are also suing Optum Rx, the PBM that took Cole's Advair Diskus off his insurance company's formulary, and Walgreens, his pharmacy, which, the Schmidtknechts say, didn't offer Cole a way to control his asthma while another solution could be found. The lawsuit claims that Cole did not get the required 30 days' notice of the change, that his doctor wasn't contacted and that the pharmacy didn't provide Cole with any more affordable options. The Schmidknechts said Cole left the pharmacy with only a rescue inhaler, which is used for quick relief. But that type of medication by itself isn't strong enough to keep someone out of the emergency room if the asthma attack is severe, Dr. David Bernstein, an immunologist who is a professor in the division of immunology, allergy and rheumatology at the University of Cincinnati, said. 'It was empty at his house, next to his bed,' Bil said of the emergency inhaler. In a motion to dismiss the Schmidkneckt's lawsuit, Optum Rx expressed 'its deepest sympathies' for Cole's death and said federal law prohibits the case from being brought in state court. Optum also said three alternatives, each with a $5 copay, were available, and its system instructed Walgreens to contact Cole's doctor about those options. Walgreens also offered 'its deepest sympathies and cited privacy for why it can't discuss specifics in the case. In a statement, it added, 'In general, in cases where a medication is not covered by insurance, pharmacy staff may work with the plan, patient, and/or prescriber in an effort to process and dispense the prescription if able.' Cole would be 24 now. When speaking about all the things he could have been doing, his parents nearly break down. 'He was just so young, and he had his whole life ahead of him,' Shanon said. 'And it was so preventable and so unnecessary.' For the Schmidkneckts, it's about policy change. 'Justice for Cole, of course, but bigger than that, justice for us all,' Shanon said. Getting that change won't be easy. In the U.S., just three PBMs process 80% of prescriptions. And a big part of the PBM formulary playbook is secrecy, Anderson said. That way, patients don't learn how PBMs make their decisions about drugs and why a medication that had been on the formulary no longer is. Often no one, from the patients to the drug companies to the insurers, is aware of the details of the decisions the PBMs are making. 'They do not share this information widely, as it is considered a trade secret,' Anderson said. The deals are 'a negotiation between the drug companies and the PBM,' Anderson said. 'The drug company wants their drug on the formulary in a favorable position. The PBM wants to get the largest possible rebate.' The 'rebate' is the difference between the list price for a drug and what the PBM can buy it for, which can be 'a very much lower number than the list price,' Anderson said. When there are multiple drugs that do essentially the same thing, then there's a bidding war, usually a silent one. The rewards for the PBMs can be huge. A Federal Trade Commission report released in January found that, over the past few years, the three biggest PBMs — CVS Health Caremark Rx, Cigna's Express Scripts and UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx — inflated the costs of numerous life-saving medications by billions of dollars. The companies countered that the FTC report's conclusions were misleading. In January, CVS Health said in a statement that it 'is inappropriate and misleading to draw broad conclusions from cherry-picked 'specialty generic' outliers' and that the company's 'top priority is to make health care more affordable.' OptumRx said that it helped eligible patients save $1.3 billion last year and estimated that the median out-of-pocket payment for these patients was $5. To remember Cole, both his parents had a tattoo just like his inked onto their wrists. When they feel overwhelmed they glance down at it to remember the change they want to make in his honor. 'It's just everyone's little reminder, you know, from Cole to just keep living and that we can still be happy,' Shanon said. 'I keep trying to remind myself that happiness and joy and grief can co-exist.' We're reporting in depth on the systems surrounding our health care and insurance industries. If you are dealing with bills that seem to be out of line or a denial of coverage, care or repairs, whether for health, home or auto, please email us at Costofdenial@ This article was originally published on
NBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
Parents sue over son's asthma death days after inhaler price soared without warning
When 22-year-old Cole Schmidtknecht tried to get a refill on the inhaler prescribed by his doctor to prevent asthma attacks. The medication that had formerly cost him less than $70 at his Appleton, Wisconsin pharmacy was now priced at more than $500, according to Cole's father, Bil Schmidtknecht. Stunned, Cole left the store with a medication designed to stop asthma attacks once they start, but without the Advair Diskus inhaler he needed to prevent attacks from happening in the first place. Five days after his pharmacy visit last year, Cole had a severe asthma attack, stopped breathing and collapsed. He never regained consciousness and died. Doctors attributed his death to asthma. His parents, Bil and Shanon Schmidtknecht, blame what they say is a dysfunctional system where medications can change in price overnight and without notice. A part of the insurance system that many Americans don't know about was responsible for the spike in Cole's inhaler price. Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are the middlemen that control behind the scenes which drugs will be on an insurance company's list of covered medications (called its formulary). They add or subtract medications through a process that emphasizes profits for the pharmacy benefit manager by way of 'rebates' from drug makers, said Gerard Anderson, a professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. PBMs 'are looking for the drug that makes them the most money,' Andersen said 'It's insane that it's happening in America,' Bil Schmidknecht said. 'It's not broken. It's designed to work this way. It's just hurting us.' The Schmidtknechts are pushing for legislation that would require a 90-day warning when an insurance company's formulary is changed. They are also suing Optum Rx, the PBM that took Cole's Advair Diskus off his insurance company's formulary, and Walgreens, his pharmacy, which, the Schmidtknechts say, didn't offer Cole a way to control his asthma while another solution could be found. Cole had a rescue inhaler to deal with attacks when they occurred. But that type medication by itself isn't strong enough to keep someone out of the emergency room if the attack is severe, said Dr. David Bernstein, a professor in the division of Immunology, allergy and rheumatology at University of Cincinnati. The lawsuit claims that Cole did not get the required 30 days notice of the change; that his doctor wasn't contacted; and that the pharmacy didn't provide Cole with any more affordable options. The Schmidknechts said Cole left the pharmacy with only a rescue inhaler, which is used for quick relief. But that type medication by itself isn't strong enough to keep someone out of the emergency room if the asthma attack is severe, immunologist Dr. David Bernstein, a professor in the division of immunology, allergy and rheumatology at the University of Cincinnati, said. 'It was empty at his house, next to his bed,' Bil said of the emergency inhaler. In a motion to dismiss the Schmidkneckt's lawsuit, Optum Rx expressed 'its deepest sympathies' for Cole's death and said federal law prohibits the case from being brought in state court. Optum also said three alternatives, each with a $5 copay, were available, and its system instructed Walgreens to contact Cole's doctor about those options. Walgreens also offered 'its deepest sympathies and cited privacy for why it can't discuss specifics in the case. In a statement, it added, 'In general, in cases where a medication is not covered by insurance, pharmacy staff may work with the plan, patient, and/or prescriber in an effort to process and dispense the prescription if able.' Cole would be 24 now. When speaking about all the things he could have been doing, his parents nearly break down. 'He was just so young and he had his whole life ahead of him,' Shanon said. 'And it was so preventable and so unnecessary.' For the Schmidkneckts, it's about policy change. 'Justice for Cole, of course, but bigger than that, justice for us all,' Shanon said. Getting that change won't be easy. In the U.S., just three PBMs process 80% of prescriptions. And a big part of the PBM formulary playbook is secrecy, Anderson said. That way, patients don't learn how PBMs make their decisions about drugs and why a medication that had been on the formulary no longer is. Often no one, from the patients to the drug companies to the insurers, is aware of the details of the decisions the PBMs are making. 'They do not share this information widely, as it is considered a trade secret,' Anderson said. The deals are 'a negotiation between the drug companies and the PBM,' Anderson said. 'The drug company wants their drug on the formulary in a favorable position. The PBM wants to get the largest possible rebate.' The 'rebate' is the difference between the list price for a drug and what the PBM can buy it for, which can be 'a very much lower number than the list price,' Anderson said. When there are multiple drugs that do essentially the same thing, then there's a bidding war, usually a silent one. The rewards for the PBMs can be huge. A Federal Trade Commission report released in January found that, over the past few years, the three biggest PBMs — CVS Health Caremark Rx, Cigna's Express Scripts and UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx — inflated the costs of numerous life-saving medications by billions of dollars. The companies countered that the FTC report's conclusions were misleading. In January, CVS Health said in a statement that it 'is inappropriate and misleading to draw broad conclusions from cherry-picked 'specialty generic' outliers' and that the company's 'top priority is to make health care more affordable.' OptumRx said that it helped eligible patients save $1.3 billion last year and estimated that the median out-of-pocket payment for these patients was $5. To remember Cole, both his parents had a tattoo just like his inked onto their wrists. When they feel overwhelmed they glance down at it to remember the change they want to make in his honor. 'It's just everyone's little reminder, you know, from Cole to just keep living and that we can still be happy,' Shanon said. 'I keep trying to remind myself that happiness and joy and grief can co-exist.'
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
UK sees record 1,200 boat migrants in a day despite tougher rules on asylum
UK government figures released Sunday show that nearly 1,200 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on Saturday, June 1, 2025, the highest daily total this year. Country-wise figures have not been released yet. According to the Home Office, 1,194 people arrived in 18 boats during settled weather, bringing the annual tally so far to 14,811. That's 42% higher than the same period last year, adding pressure on the Labour government, which came to power nearly a year ago partly on voter frustration over the previous Conservative government's handling of the crossings. A Home Office spokesperson said, 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.' The spokesperson added, 'That is why this government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage. Through international intelligence sharing under our Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement operations in Northern France and tougher legislation in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, we are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders.' On Saturday, French police officers watched as migrants boarded boats at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk. French authorities said they rescued 184 people from the Channel. Defence Secretary John Healey told Sky News, 'Pretty shocking, those scenes yesterday.' He said it was a 'really big problem' that French police cannot intervene in shallow waters. 'The UK is pressing for the French to put new rules into operation so they can intervene,' he added. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his government would regain control of the border by tackling the gangs and the business models that keep the smuggling routes going. The government has moved to strengthen intelligence-sharing with France and ramp up enforcement operations. Tougher rules were added to immigration legislation last month. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill proposes ending the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers, which has cost billions. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, 'Nor should asylum seekers be stuck in hotels at the taxpayers' expense during lengthy legal battles. That is why we are changing the law to help clear the backlog.' Under the Bill, tribunals will now have 24 weeks to decide asylum appeals for those receiving housing support or for non-detained foreign national offenders. Appeals currently take nearly 50 weeks on average, based on tribunal data. More funds, faster hearings and digital tools The government plans to allocate more funds to increase hearing days at both first-tier and upper-tier immigration tribunals. The Bill also strengthens the powers of the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), which regulates who can provide immigration advice in the UK. Anyone caught pretending to be a registered immigration adviser now faces higher fines—up to £15,000 (around Rs 17 lakh)—and possible prison time. The Home Office warned that some of these unregistered advisers act as middlemen, offering misleading or fraudulent services to migrants. Artificial intelligence will now be used to help process asylum claims more quickly. Officials say the technology will reduce the time that asylum seekers spend in limbo and cut costs for the taxpayer. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is overseeing this broader plan to digitise public services and find up to £45 billion in savings. Asylum claims by nationality Figures show 3,911 Indian nationals claimed asylum in the UK in 2023, up sharply from 1,333 in 2022. However, only 5% of Indian applicants were granted protection at the first stage, in contrast to nearly universal success rates for applicants from conflict zones: 98% for Afghans and 99% for Syrians and Eritreans. That year also saw 1,194 Indian nationals crossing the Channel in small boats, accounting for 4.1% of total arrivals by this route. Returns to home countries at record level Between July 5, 2024 and March 22, 2025, the UK returned 24,103 individuals with no legal right to stay. This included: < 6,339 enforced returns < 3,594 foreign national offenders < 6,781 asylum-related returns < 46 chartered deportation flights to destinations across four continents This was the highest figure in a comparable nine-month period since 2017. Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit on March 31, Prime Minister Starmer said, 'It undermines our ability to control who comes here and that makes people angry. It makes me angry, frankly. It is unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price, from the cost of hotels to our public services struggling under the strain.' New legal presumption for foreign sex offenders The government has also introduced an amendment under the UK Borders Act 2007, creating a legal presumption to refuse refugee status to foreign nationals convicted of a sexual offence serious enough to trigger sex offender registration. Each case will still be reviewed to determine the seriousness of the offence and the danger to the public. 'They're not doing it, but, but for the first time for years … we've got the level of cooperation needed,' Healey told Sky News. 'We've got the agreement that they will change the way they work, and our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore.' The UK Home Office says 36,816 people crossed the Channel in small boats in 2024, a 25% rise from 2023, when 29,437 people arrived. The peak was in 2022, when 45,774 people made the crossing. Many are believed to be drawn by the UK's language, family connections, or perceived easier access to asylum and work.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Young Scots more opposed to assisted dying than other age groups, poll finds
Young people aged 18-24 are more opposed than any other age group to attempts to legalise assisted dying in Scotland, a new poll has found. The news comes as the Lib Dem MSP spearheading the proposals announced he has dropped the section of the plans that would have allowed 16-year-olds to end their lives with medical assistance. The proposed Bill – brought forward by Liam McArthur - would now require people to be at least 18 before they can apply for medically-assisted euthanasia. The plans would see the law changed so a patient could request medical assistance to end their life if they had a terminal illness and had been ruled mentally fit to make the decision by two doctors. MSPs are scheduled to vote on the broad principles of McArthur's bill at Holyrood on 13 May. Discussing his decision, Mr McArthur said: 'In other jurisdictions that have changed the law to allow dying people access to the choice of an assisted death, such as the US, Australia and New Zealand, 18 is the age from which terminally ill adults become eligible. 'On balance I now feel that this would be most appropriate for Scotland.' The change to the proposed Assisted Dying (Scotland) Bill comes as the results of a survey by pollsters Whitestone, commissioned by anti-assisted suicide campaign group Care Not Killing, are published. It shows initial support for the Bill is highest among 45-54 year olds with 83 per cent of those surveyed in favour of it. Meanwhile, the lowest level of initial support was found to be among people aged 18-24 at 69 per cent. The poll also found that two thirds of Scots oppose assisted suicide when they consider how it operates in practice and think about the arguments against it. The pollsters said that support for assisted suicide among the general population falls to just 19 per cent when those taking part were presented with 10 arguments against assisted dying, including facts about how it operates overseas. The study found that among those who initially support assisted suicide, only 25 per cent continued to do so after considering the arguments against. Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing which is spearheading opposition to the legislation said the results show the public 'have genuine fears' about the Bill. He added: 'This shows that most people have no fixed views on the matter and are deeply troubled by its consequences.' The news comes after SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray refused to reveal how he will vote on the Bill. He will not make his views known publicly until after MSPs vote for the first time on the issue. The private member's Bill lodged by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur has so far failed to win public backing from a single member of John Swinney's Cabinet. The First Minister has also said he intends to make his own personal views known on the issue in the coming days, before the Stage One vote to decide whether the Bill will continue to proceed through parliament. Mr Gray had said: 'As I'm the lead minister for the Bill, I'm going to be following the government's position, which is of neutrality.' Three previous attempts to legalise assisted dying in Scotland have failed to secure enough support from MSPs. Asked about his own position on Thursday, Mr Swinney said: 'I have got views on that and I will set them out in due course.' Mr Swinney, who has previously spoken of his 'deep Christian faith' and voted against the Assisted Suicide Scotland Bill in 2015, said he intends to make a 'public statement' on the issue before the Stage One vote, and added: 'It will obviously be my individual view. 'I appreciate I'm the First Minister but it will be my view, I will have one vote on this issue and I will make clear my view.' In order to proceed to Stage Two, the Bill would need to secure majority support among the 129 MSPs on May 13.
Channel Post MEA
05-02-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Tech Leaders Converge at LEAP to Shape Saudi Arabia's Digital Future
The technological landscape of Saudi Arabia continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, with Vision 2030 driving a remarkable digital transformation across multiple sectors. At the upcoming LEAP Riyadh conference, leading technology executives from global corporations will converge to showcase their innovative solutions and share insights into the Kingdom's rapidly changing digital ecosystem. Kyndryl's Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Pieter Bil, emphasizes the profound changes occurring in the Saudi market. 'Digital is now at the heart of our customers' operations,' Bil notes, highlighting the country's commitment to technological advancement. Kyndryl is set to demonstrate its strategic partnership with Google, focusing on cloud offerings specifically tailored to the travel and transport industry. The company will also introduce Kyndryl Bridge, an open integration platform designed to connect technologies, data, and teams, ultimately accelerating digital transformation. The conference serves as a critical platform for knowledge exchange, partnership development, and technological innovation. By bringing together global technology leaders and local stakeholders, LEAP Riyadh creates an environment where cutting-edge solutions can be explored, discussed, and implemented. The event reflects the Kingdom's proactive approach to technological advancement, positioning Saudi Arabia as a potential regional and global leader in digital innovation. SAS, another key participant, brings a comprehensive perspective on the Kingdom's technological evolution. Asad Makki, Customer Advisory Manager, points out the significant strides in technological adoption, particularly in sectors like banking. The company is approaching LEAP with a collaborative spirit, partnering with Microsoft and MIS to showcase cross-industry solutions. Visitors can expect to experience innovative AI Smart City solutions and a virtual reality presentation demonstrating AI-powered forecasting and simulation techniques. For these technology executives, LEAP represents more than just a conference—it's an opportunity to witness and contribute to a transformative digital journey. They are not merely observers but active participants in shaping the technological future of Saudi Arabia. Their collective expertise, innovative solutions, and strategic insights provide a comprehensive view of how technology can drive economic diversification, enhance operational efficiency, and create new opportunities across various sectors. Juniper Networks' Fayez Eweidat provides additional context to the market's transformation, describing the rapid digitalization and improved infrastructure for emerging technologies like AI, cloud, IoT, and 5G. The company's participation at LEAP centers around its 'The NOW Way to Network' theme, with a particular focus on demonstrating the benefits of AI-Native Networking. Eweidat emphasizes the event's importance in facilitating discussions, understanding customer challenges, and showcasing solutions that can foster long-term relationships. Cybersecurity takes center stage with Zscaler's participation. Saeed Agha, VP of Emerging Markets, highlights the Kingdom's embrace of cloud-first strategies and Zero Trust frameworks. Zscaler is particularly excited to showcase its Zero Trust Exchange platform, which addresses critical aspects of cybersecurity and data protection. The company's expanding local data center footprint underscores its commitment to meeting the region's specific data sovereignty and compliance requirements. These technology leaders collectively paint a picture of a dynamic and rapidly evolving digital landscape in Saudi Arabia. Their participation in LEAP Riyadh represents more than just a showcase of technological capabilities; it symbolizes a deeper commitment to supporting the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030 goals. Each company brings unique perspectives and solutions that address critical aspects of digital transformation, from network infrastructure and cloud computing to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in digital infrastructure and embrace emerging technologies, events like LEAP Riyadh become increasingly significant. They serve as a testament to the Kingdom's commitment to innovation, its ability to attract global technological talent, and its vision of becoming a hub for digital transformation in the Middle East and beyond. The excitement is palpable among these technology leaders. They see immense potential in the Saudi market, driven by a combination of visionary leadership, strategic investments, and a genuine commitment to technological advancement. LEAP Riyadh 2025 promises to be a pivotal moment in the Kingdom's ongoing digital transformation journey.
