Parents Sue After Son’s Asthma Death Following Inhaler Price Surge
The death of 22-year-old Cole Schmidtknecht highlights a critical flaw in the US healthcare system. His asthma medication, Advair Diskus, experienced a drastic price increase due to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) manipulating formularies to maximize profits. This resulted in Cole lacking preventative medication, leading to a fatal asthma attack. His parents are now suing OptumRx and Walgreens, advocating for legislation requiring advanced notice of formulary changes and increased transparency within the PBM system. The Schmidtknechts’ tragedy underscores the urgent need for reform to prevent similar preventable deaths.
John Q. Hosedrinker