Emergency Nurse’s Fight Against High Drug Prices

In 2011, emergency nurse Janet Kerrigan was stunned to learn that she had multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, and that her life expectancy was reduced to possibly just one or two more years.

Thankfully, her situation improved after she received a crucial stem cell transplant in 2012. However, she faced significant challenges when her private insurance only covered 80% of her medical expenses. Soon after, a hefty pharmacy bill arrived.

Kerrigan was prescribed levamide, a high-cost drug crucial for activating her immune system to fight cancer, which left her with an out-of-pocket expense of $11,000.

“This is a drug that will give myeloma a break,” said the 69-year-old from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “It’s like how diabetics need insulin. Myeloma patients need levrimid, so I just put it into action.”

What ensued was a whirlwind of selling assets, engaging in family-led fundraising, and taking on side jobs—all just to continue affording levlarmid.

Last week, the high costs of prescription drugs gained attention when President Trump announced a new initiative aimed at reducing these prices. Pfizer has agreed to lower costs for Medicaid prescriptions, while a new site called TrumpRx is set to offer discounted medications for those uninsured or underinsured.

Kerrigan, who is now retired and on Medicare, sees this as a potential “start of necessary support.” She believes, perhaps optimistically, that the benefits will extend beyond Medicaid.

Details of the New Drug Price Plan

Kerrigan noted that some myeloma patients can obtain a three-month supply of medication in India for only $80.

The U.S. is notorious for its soaring prescription drug prices, with Americans spending nearly three times as much as those in other high-income nations.

For years, President Trump has advocated for a “most-favored nation” (MFN) pricing plan to align U.S. drug prices with those of other wealthy countries.

Following his announcement on September 30th, AstraZeneca launched a platform to sell drugs directly to consumers at reduced cash prices. Medications like the asthma rescue inhaler Air Supra and diabetes medication Fasiga are now available through online platforms.

Additionally, starting in January, French pharmaceutical company Sanofi will expand its $35/month insulin program to all U.S. patients who have valid prescriptions, regardless of their insurance status.

Trump promises that his initiative could save patients up to 85%, though some critics argue this might not sufficiently alleviate the financial burden for many.

Challenges with Medication Costs

Arlolyn McCullough, 66, has also faced serious challenges affording her medication.

A retired U.S. Postal Service employee, she takes 16 pills a day to manage her condition following a liver transplant in 2011. Her medications include those that suppress her immune system and manage her cholesterol levels, among others.

Despite having federal employee health insurance, she estimates spending $600 every 90 days due to medication costs, forcing her to cut back in other areas of life, like travel and dining out.

“You have to make sure your medicine is your number one priority, because without it, there can’t be anything else,” McCullough said.

Seeking Help in D.C.

Kerrigan and McCullough are part of a national organization that advocates for affordable medication prices.

Kerrigan described a recent meeting with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., where she shared her struggles to pay for her treatments. “I’m going to say something embarrassing, but this is what I had to do. My mother gave me my grandmother’s silver coin, which I converted into medical payments,” she said, reflecting on her financial sacrifices.

After their meeting, Kennedy expressed that reducing drug prices to match those in other countries is a necessary measure.

Creating a Positive Impact

The rising medication prices overshadow the goodwill efforts that McCullough is making. She supports transplant patients at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where she received her donor liver, and runs a nonprofit called Arlolyn’s House of Hope, aimed at assisting organ transplant patients and their families.

Kerrigan, meanwhile, is involved with a support group for myeloma patients in her area. After undergoing personalized immunotherapy in 2023, she has stopped taking prescription medication and returned to remission.

Kerrigan believes that a significant reduction in drug costs would “save lives for many.” She questioned, “Why should people with cancer be worried about where they will get their medicine in the U.S.?”