Every day, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals nationwide who have to choose between food or being able to buy their medication. Some have even died because they were unable to afford their medication. This is due to the price gouging and undeniable greed by Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs.
The time has come. Enough is enough. Patient Protector is a forum not only to educate the public on the tragic impact PBMs have on America but also to provide them with a platform to share their stories so that we, together, can put an end to their greed by demanding transparency.
Cole Schmidtknecht was a quirky, funny kid, wise and curious beyond his years. This young man's life was cut short at just 22yrs old. He had asthma all of his life, but it was well managed. That is, until his medication became unaffordable to him. Are your medications becoming unaffordable? Don't you want to know why and who is responsible? Let us show you. Cole's life didn't have a price tag and yours doesn't either! Educate yourself so that we as a community can fight Cole's fight for him and ALL of us.
Cole was just 22 years old when his life was tragically cut short. He was a free-spirited young man with his entire life ahead of him. Cole had been diagnosed with asthma at the age of one, facing numerous challenges from poor eyesight, braces, ADD, academic struggles, severe depression, to a serious knee injury right after high school graduation. Despite these hardships, he had been doing well in the past couple of years.
Living independently with his childhood best friend, working full-time, embracing young adulthood, and finally discovering his path in life, Cole was on a positive trajectory. However, in January 2024, just before his 23rd birthday, his life came to an abrupt end. A trip to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for a steroid inhaler for his asthma turned into a devastating ordeal when he discovered his insurance didn't cover it.
Without access to generic alternatives or "step therapy" options, he faced an exorbitant out-of-pocket cost that was beyond his means. Unable to afford the medication due to high expenses, he left the pharmacy empty-handed. Tragically, five days later, Cole suffered a severe asthma attack leading to cardiac arrest, and he was placed in the ICU on a ventilator. He passed away six days after the attack, just eleven days after attempting to obtain the essential medication. Cole's untimely death could have been prevented.
The greed of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and their practices of making medications unattainable resulted in this heartbreaking loss. Let Cole's story be heard. Cole was not one to back down in the face of adversity and let the "tough guy" win. He would never tolerate such injustices. Hence, we will carry on the fight in his honor and for every American enduring similar struggles every day.
- Margaret Meade
Sharing Your Experiences in Healthcare Makes a Big Difference
In Sharing How You Have Personally Been Impacted by PBMS & Injustice in the Healthcare System You Force Legislators to Act.
Dive into the stories of people just like you, your family, and so many others who have had their lives severely altered by the greed of Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
Learn About the Tragic Impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers on Every Day Americans
Go through the vast amount of materials from videos, articles, infographics and even podcasts explaining the ways that PBMs take advantage of Americans every day through our healthcare system.
How have you or your family experienced mistreatment and forced to make difficult decisions regarding your health because of things like cost and location? Were you forced to get your prescriptions mail-ordered and have your overall health be put in jeopardy by receiving the wrong medicine, all because it was more cost effective for PBMs? The horror stories of injustice go on and on, please share yours!
By sharing how Pharmacy Benefit Managers have negatively impacted or altered your life, you create an invitation for others to feel safe sharing theirs. By doing so and banding together, we will give legislators no choice but to take the right action and push for PBM reform.
We Provide Education for You to Understand the Impact of PBMS