EPA Imposes Environmental Tax On Asthma Sufferers
The EPA has ordered an end to over-the-counter inhalers due to their use of small amounts of gasses that are blamed for ozone depletion. As a result, asthma sufferers will have to pay 50-200% more for prescription inhalers.
The EPA move reflects an administration increasingly torn between uncompromising environmental activists who demand new regulatory measures regardless of their cost and the practical realities faced by millions of everyday Americans who cannot afford the “green” lifestyle, especially during difficult economic times. As Megan McArdle points out, nearly every move demanded by the “green lifestyle” nannies leaves consumers worse off for minimal environmental benefits:
In fact, when I look back at almost every “environmentally friendly” alternative product I’ve seen being widely touted as a cost-free way to lower our footprint, held back only by the indecent vermin at “industry” who don’t care about the environment, I notice a common theme: the replacement good has really really sucked compared to the old, inefficient version. In some cases, the problem could be overcome by buying a top-of-the-line model that costs, at the very least, several times what the basic models do. In other cases, as with my asthma inhalers, we were just stuck.
But with environmentalists and many other progressives increasingly demanding that the Obama administration hold a hard and uncompromising line against Republicans that they see as downright evil, these kinds of ham-fisted moves are likely to proliferate. Conciliation and understanding are outmoded. Purism is the new black.
21 Responses to “EPA Imposes Environmental Tax On Asthma Sufferers”
I think this is going on in almost every aspect of the Govt today. Not just on one side mind you. People made much of Repubs holding hostage the debt ceiling increase but the truth is Dem’s did the same. Neither side wanted to give anymore that they absolutely had to. There seems to be less and less cost benefit analysis and more keeping score. The “bad guys” are based purely on partisan goals not on any objective standards.
Cut the attack on Obama for this. First of all, the ban came from an EPA decision made in 2008, when George Bush was president. Secondly, the banned OTC asthma medications are medications which should not even be used by asthmatics. They are far less effective and have far more side effects than conventional treatment. I, and most doctors, advise asthma patients against their use.
Asthma is preferably treated with prophylactic medications such as inhaled steroids to limit the need for rescue medications of this type. When rescue medications are needed, the more efficacious prescription medications, which also have less side effects should be used.
The real problem is that many asthmatics have resorted to this type of treatment because of lack of health care coverage. Obama does deserve credit for addressing this problem.
Although I would be considered one of those dreaded environmentalists I agree this is silly. I was an engineer in the electronics industry when they decided freon for cleaning electronic assemblies was a no no. We managed to adapt with some up front costs but no continuing costs. But although it’s not publicized we now know that ozone depleting gasses had less to do with the holes in the ozone layer than natural fluctuations in the earth’s magnetic field. The earths magnetic field is decreasing because we are near a magnetic pole reversal which happens every few thousand years. When it happens the ozone layer will disappear – a bad thing but there is nothing we can do about it. There have been times when the transition was very short and few extinctions were associated with the event. There have also been times when it stretched out over several thousand years and mass extinctions occurred.
This is also not a new development. The high cost of these bronchodilators is not due to some amazingly expensive new propellant technology, it is instead due to the ability to move this entire class of medications from a “meter dose inhaler” technology to a “HFA” technology, thereby allowing drug companies to legally categorize it within a non- generic classification and thus a higher, legally protected (for a number of years) price tag. The albuterol sulfate is the same old stuff it has been for decades.
This isn’t an EPA conspiracy. It is just an opportunity to make it sound like the poor asthma sufferers are victims of the EPA instead of the legal brand name protection that pharmaceutical companies can enjoy by “changing” their product.
And rchusid is totally correct above regarding the OTC meds. A physician who might suggest them as a valid method for asthma management wouldn’t be doing much for the service of the patient. I do truly believe too that the market was there because people who might need asthma management simply can’t afford the care endorsed by pulmonologists in the first place.
This has less to do about ozone and much more to do with reasonably affordable health care overall, in my view.
“But although it’s not publicized we now know that ozone depleting gasses had less to do with the holes in the ozone layer than natural fluctuations in the earth’s magnetic field. The earths magnetic field is decreasing because we are near a magnetic pole reversal which happens every few thousand years. When it happens the ozone layer will disappear – a bad thing but there is nothing we can do about it”
Ron you are confusing the ozone layer with the magnetosphere. The ozone layer is a chemical process that fluctuates based on atmospheric conditions while the magnetosphere is a physical process that arises from the core of the planet interacting with solar wind. Both protect us from solar radiation but they definitely aren’t equivalent.
Ron-
Oh you are just full of good news. To heck with the inhalers, is there a life boat on this sinking ship?
Hmmm, fascinating. This is the first I’ve heard of this, and I subscribe to several science & climate blogs. Some googling shows there is evidence for this, but there is also doubt, for example ozone is (as was said earlier) a chemical and not an electromagnetic phenomenon. Definitely worth looking into, however.
JeffP I think you are possibly confusing the issues with prescription albuterol inhalers in the past few years with Logan’s point, which affects OTC inhalers. The stimulus is the same though, which is both to get rid of CFC inhalers and also for Big Pharma to jack up the prices.
For the past few years there has been a switch from cheap CFC-propelled to the more expensive HFA inhalers. This makes environmentalists happy but also makes Big Pharma a lot of money. My understanding is that the EPA has driven the change but they were certainly cheered on by the Pharm industry. You used to be able to get a generic albuterol inhaler for 8-10 bucks, now you have to shell out 40+ bucks for a name brand. This has greatly hurt uninsured and low income patients with asthma.
So now the non-CFC guidelines have spread to the OTC epinephrine. This should bother me but doesn’t too much since the OTC epinephrine is an awful medication that should have been pulled a long time ago. More dangerous than albuterol, doesn’t last very long and prone to misuse. If it were just coming on the market today I don’t think it would ever be approved by the FDA.
DaGoat
You are correct on all of the above,
Managed to articulate it better than I by a longshot.
I think it was a serendipitous fallout for the drug companies, as you suggest.
And I think the standards for propellants might have affected other industries similarly such as certain refrigerants etc.
Thanks for helping clarify.
Long story short:
To try to blame the Obama Administration for this is either: a) a sign of not taking the time to research the facts or b) intentional misrepresenting the EPA actions.
Here’s the link:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm272872.htm
Stevek was the albuterol you bought in Mexico CFC-free or CFC-propelled?
I had to go to “google.mx” to get an answer but YES there are NO CFC’s… And it seems from the link below that most, if not all, Mexican Albuterol (Salbutamol) uses HFA as a propellant.
FWIW – My “Mexican” albuterol was made in China.
EDIT TO ADD: I also get generic Musinex 600 mg @ $6.34 per 100
Thanks Steve that just shows how US citizens are getting ripped off. I think of this as more of a Big Government/Big Pharma problem as opposed to a GOP problem, but I agree this can’t be put on Obama.
It appears that Armstrong Pharmaceuticals, a private corporation, that is the sole distributor of Primatene Mist is playing a little, “this little piggy went to the market” with it’s customers.
Statement on Availability of Primatene© Mist CFC
There you have it, Armstrong Pharmaceuticals has known for over four years that this ban was going into effect and are just now getting around to changing the “gas.”
But whatever you do valued “Primatene® Mist” customer, make sure to over-buy and super stock-up on our product because we’ve over-produced just for this sales campaign.
Does anyone remember how long it took DuPont to put out Freon 134 after the ban on Freon 12? Does anyone…recall…that the ban on Freon 12, based on information provided largely by the DuPont Company, hurried into existence as their patent on Freon 12 was lapsing?
Corporations have ALWAYS taken advantage of Regulators to freeze out or hinder competitors when and where they can, or to profiteer off of new regulations. It’s the nature of the hyper-regulatory state that the biggest fish will either ignore the pain of fines, or influence Regulatory statutes and taxes to prevent smaller competitors from being able to compete, and preserve or even enhance their market-share.
The best friend of Big Business, is Big Government.
“The best friend of Big Business, is Big Government.”
In more ways than one.
Are you implying that it’s “Big Governments” fault that Albuterol costs:
If this is what you’re saying would you mind explaining why you think it’s the governments (big of small) fault.
Thanks SteveK, for pointing out what a difference it would make if it wasn’t technically illegal to buy it from other countries.
Nice try Elwood, but your non-sequitur about buying pharmaceuticals in Mexico as a “technically illegality” is just your way of not addressing the point raised so I’ll reword my comment and remove Mexico from the equation.
Maybe you will try to explain why you want to keep blaming the Government while letting Big US Business off the hook.
Are you implying that it’s NOT “Big Businesses” fault that Albuterol costs:
With the recently reported rise in year of health care premiums this year it’s incredible that you don’t think it’s the governments job / responsibility to protect the American People from vultures and grave robbers (ie Super Pharma, HMO’s, and Health Plans) that make up the US Health Care Industry.
FWIW: It’s NOT illegal to buy from other countries, it’s illegal to send foreign drugs through the mail or to buy more than a 30 (90?) day supply.
In this day and age it would be stupid to try to BS the Border Patrol so when returning through US Customs everyone, myself included, declares and presents for inspection each-and-every drug that we are bring into the States.
My point is simple: the government is serving those companies by discouraging competition. If the drugs were legally importable (in an unlimited way) from other countries, don’t you think the pharmaceutical chains (like CVS and Walgreens) would do so?
What part don’t you understand?