Starting in October, Greenville (S.C.) County School District will have to pay for EpiPens, which for the past three years were shipped to the district for free, according to a local NBC affiliate.
The district needs 182 two-packs of EpiPens to stock its 90 schools, said spokeswoman Beth Brotherton. Even at a reduced price of $90 a pack, the order will cost the district about $16,000.
"Any time you're talking about an added cost, you have to think about where the money will come from," said Ms. Brotherton.
While schools are not required to stock EpiPens, the medication does provide an important safety net, said Robin Alexander, a nurse at Bethel Elementary School. "EpiPens are critical to the school," she said. "We need them because there are students who have unknown allergic reactions."
Other school districts in the area are still receiving free EpiPens from the manufacturer, according to the report.
The news comes shortly after EpiPen maker Mylan vowed to expand access and benefits to the company's drug discount program to help consumers pay less money for the medication.
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