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I wonder if they make pill-shaped yachts. 
Jeremy Falcon
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That's what we pay taxes for.
This space for rent
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What a concept.
Jeremy Falcon
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Pete O'Hanlon wrote: That's what we pay taxes for.
Exactly.
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Twood be interesting to know what the NHS actually pays. We have the PBS system in Oz that is similar, the cost to the PBS is not transparent.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Frankly, this sort of thing should be criminal. $300 for a single EpiPen is just ridiculous. I get that drug companies pay billions in research costs, and that they need to recoup that somehow. But the EpiPen has been around more than long enough to have paid itself off. They should be sold practically at cost now.
The FDA and FTC need to start regulating these prices. Drug companies should be required to submit all of their budget documentation for R&D, and the cost of the drug should then be calculated based upon projected market size and a standard number of years (say 5 or 10) to recoup the costs. Past that, there should be a cap on profitability, say 10-15% above material and production/distribution costs.
No-one should be getting rich from helping people...
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Kyle Moyer wrote: No-one should be getting rich from helping people...
So are you saying that only bad people should be allowed to get rich?
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Haha, I'm not saying they shouldn't get to live comfortably, but when you see how much the executives get paid... That's just crazy.
There's an old saying I can't remember precisely, but it basically says that helping people should be its own reward (ie, feeling good about doing good.) Of course, everyone's gotta eat, but being able to eat Filet Mignon and Lobster for dinner every night just because you run a company that helps people with heart disease live longer lives is ridiculous.
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I agree the increase is egregious but part of that increase (not all but still a non-trivial amount) is the cost of meeting FDA and FTC reporting requirements and stuff like that so you are saying the solution is MORE government intrusion and paperwork?
NO, I'm not for laissez-faire, willy nilly capitialism but do we really need more regulation?
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MarkTJohnson wrote: I agree the increase is egregious but part of that increase (not all but still a non-trivial amount) is the cost of meeting FDA and FTC reporting requirements and stuff like that
Hmm. Yeah, seems I failed to consider that part. You've a fair point.
I'm just another one of those guys on the outside looking in, seeing a problem, but not seeing all the facets. Makes you wonder if reducing FDA and FTC involvement would help more or less than what I originally proposed... Something needs to be done, but it's admittedly above my pay-grade to come up with the best solution. I can spit-ball with the best of them though!
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Almost fell out of my chair, a reasoned rationale response.
Thank you.
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Over here a quick googling gives me $88 for a two pack.
I'll never stop wondering why you want to keep your corrupt health care system.
You'd better answer that in the soapbox though. 
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I don't need the soapbox to answer that one. It's three things: greed, fear, and congress.
if (Object.DividedByZero == true) { Universe.Implode(); }
Meus ratio ex fortis machina. Simplicitatis de formae ac munus. -Foothill, 2016
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USD 300 for 2 in Canada. Your additional insurance plan may cover up to 80% of this cost.
/ravi
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Forgive my ignorance but I figured EpiPens would be covered by Canada's universal healthcare.
if (Object.DividedByZero == true) { Universe.Implode(); }
Meus ratio ex fortis machina. Simplicitatis de formae ac munus. -Foothill, 2016
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It may be. My reply was based on the price I found at a Canadian distributor on the web.
/ravi
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Ravi Bhavnani wrote: It may be.
It would be if prescribed by a Dr., minus of course the fees the pharmacy charge for dispensing a boxed product. I have a few friends that have them for their kids for peanuts, seafood, bees, etc.
Ken
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Apparently €160 for two. That's before you claim it back from your health insurance.
That still seems a little steep, but I don't know how they make these things.
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What's sad is that epinephrine itself is not expensive at all. It's the patent on the epipen design that drives up the cost. No other vendor can legally duplicate it.
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Which is the problem with most medications; since one as a patient has no alternative, one is forced to pay, even if those amounts are rediculous.
It is a section that could do well without patents.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Cost of getting someone to look down at you wearing a hockey mask and theatrically brandishing a chainsaw: $0
In fact, that sounds like so much fun that I'd probably pay you a buck or two to let me do it (+ air fare + hotel costs).
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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They would first thank you then hand you their dry cleaning bill because they ruined their underwear.
if (Object.DividedByZero == true) { Universe.Implode(); }
Meus ratio ex fortis machina. Simplicitatis de formae ac munus. -Foothill, 2016
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Effectively no cost in Australia. As Pete said, that's what we pay taxes for.
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Depends what you call no-cost. Your post is misleading. The current over the counter price in Australia is about $120 per pen. As it is included in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[^] the cost to an Australian resident is $38.30 or $6.20 if you are entitled to a health care card PBS Epipen[^]. The PBS costs taxpayers $10 billion per year in total. Now that isn't all. To get a PBS entitlement a prescription is required which entails a visit to the doctor. This will cost nothing for a pensioner but about $70-$37 = $33 for the average person (Medicare rebate). This means the cost of the Epipen is $38.30 + $33 = $71.30 for the normal taxpayer. The pen lasts for a year as does a prescription so this will require an annual renewal even if the pen is unused.
Peter Wasser
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell
modified 24-Aug-16 20:57pm.
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