Price Gouged to Death

“She’s not answering the phone anymore.”

I’d last talked to my patient on the phone after trying to help her get insulin. She is homeless and insulin dependent. We couldn’t figure out a way to get patient assistance for her because she didn’t have a physical address. I was quickly running out of ideas.

“Maybe she figured something out. I’m sure she’ll call back.”

She never called back. I’d like to think she found the resources she needed but the little voice in the dark part of my mind knows better. She, like millions of Americans, rationed her insulin until it killed her.

This is a regular experience for me as an RN and a person with diabetes myself. My patients are dying and there’s nothing I can do about it. No amount of education or case managing makes a difference. The red tape is fucking suffocating. Access to life saving medication and technology is limited. Even for people with “good” insurance.

Every night, I drag myself to bed and spiral over the conversations I’ve had each day. The pleas for help. I dream of nightmares with no solution and always wake up in the same place.

And today I woke up to something different. Something I should have been excited about.

“Eli Lilly cuts the list price of insulin by 70%.”

The solution I needed, right? What we needed? I can finally help my patients to some degree.

But instead I’m still angry. I’m bitter. I’m scared. I’m waiting for the fine print to make itself known. Wondering what the fuck took so long and when they’ll take it away.

Had they done this sooner, would more people be alive? Less limbs lost? Failed organs saved? Would I still be playing in a symphony without fear of being a bounced check away from rationing insulin?

For now, I’ll just keep hoping my patients answer the phone.