Six months after GSK stopped making a popular inhaler, pediatric patients with asthma still struggle to find alternative medications while urgent cares and hospitals contend with a rise in asthma-related pediatric visits, NPR reported July 22.
GSK discontinued its brand-name asthma drug Flovent on Jan. 1. It still sells the generic fluticasone but some payers only cover the branded version, leaving many patients scrambling for alternative therapies. However, many alternatives are not appropriate for young children.
This has left some children without proper medication for weeks while their parents try to find a suitable replacement that is covered by insurance.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia reported in May that admissions to intensive care for children with asthma were up 50% in March and April compared to last year. The hospital also said at least seven children had died in the Philadelphia area due to uncontrolled asthma — significantly more than in previous years.
Several states have changed their Medicaid programs to make it easier to get alternative asthma medications, and a few private insurers have followed suit, but some of these alternative drugs are experiencing shortages.
GSK stopped making Flovent after a new law that went into effect in January penalized drugmakers for big price increases in drugs for Medicaid patients. GSK chose to stop making Flovent rather than risk penalty, and said it only made the decision after ensuring an authorized generic version was available. They also said they are continuing to work with another company on a generic version for young patients.
However, the generic version costs more, so many insurance plans don't cover it, leaving some patients lost in the middle.