Lawsuit Filed After Young Man Dies Due to Asthma Medication Access Issues

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The parents of Cole Schmidtknecht, a 22-year-old from Appleton, Wisconsin, have initiated a federal lawsuit against Walgreens and OptumRx, claiming negligence that contributed to their son's death from an asthma attack. According to the lawsuit, Schmidtknecht could not afford a life-saving inhaler priced at $539.19 after his insurance coverage was dropped. His parents argue that both companies failed to provide alternative options during his prescription refill request on January 10, 2024.

Schmidtknecht had relied on his inhaler, Advair Diskus, since childhood but was left without it when it was excluded from OptumRx's formulary. His family contends that he was not given sufficient notice of this change, violating Wisconsin law. Five days after leaving the pharmacy without the inhaler, Schmidtknecht suffered a severe attack, leading to his death on January 21.

The family seeks financial compensation and aims to spark reforms in the health care system, highlighting issues around pharmaceutical pricing and access to essential medications. Walgreens has not commented on the matter due to ongoing litigation, while OptumRx expressed sorrow over Schmidtknecht's death and stated they followed industry practices.

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