Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Fox News Settles With Other Ailes Accusers

When news broke Tuesday morning that former Fox host Gretchen Carlson would be receiving a settlement of $20 million, many knew that this was just the beginning of what could be dubbed an “Ailes Cleanup.” CNN revealed later that 21st Century Fox had doled out a handful of smaller settlements to other women who accused Roger Ailes of similar sexual harassment.

Meanwhile, looking the other way while Roger Ailes ran Fox like Jabba’s palace made News Corp billions. Huge settlements? Still worth it.

— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) September 6, 2016

Even though Ailes resigned in July, some feel the details and extent of the claims against him are being downplayed.

via GIPHY

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The post RantCrush Top 5: September 7, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

After last week’s surge of criticism, pharmaceutical company Mylan said Monday it will offer a generic EpiPen for half the price of its branded one. The price of EpiPens, which are used for treating severe allergic reactions, has increased by more than 400 percent over the past ten years. Mylan acquired the product in 1997, when two pens were $94. Today, a two-pack costs as much as $608.

Last week, Hillary Clinton urged Mylan to lower its prices, as kids with food and insect allergies are about to go back to school and are dependent on EpiPens in case of a severe allergy reaction. The pens have a syringe that is filled with the hormone epinephrine, but it expires after a year. Many families keep several pens handy to have at school and at home.

The new generic pen would cost $300 for a pack of two. After the media attention, Mylan also said it will expand its programs that help people pay for the pens, as well as offer $300 copay cards–however these would only be eligible for the branded version of the pens. The assistance programs could be used for both.

The CEO of Mylan, Heather Bresch, defended the constantly rising prices last week, saying that the company only gets $274 from each pair of pens sold. A large chunk of money goes to insurance companies, pharmacies, and others. She also claimed that “no one is more frustrated” than her over the price increase.

Mylan’s CEO responds to EpiPen price criticism: https://t.co/DHDt1bJ5WH pic.twitter.com/g92QatlexI

— Forbes (@Forbes) August 28, 2016

Social media has been in uproar over the company’s greed, arguing that it puts lives in danger. Sarah Jessica Parker announced on Thursday that she’s quitting as Mylan’s spokesperson. Her son has a life-threatening peanut allergy.

Sarah Jessica Parker quits as Mylan spokesperson over EpiPen price hike https://t.co/ZwiydpYkkI

— TIME.com (@TIME) August 26, 2016

Heather Bresch is the daughter of Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) and reportedly got her job at Mylan because of that relationship in 1992. She moved the company’s headquarters to the Netherlands last year, which entailed a lower tax rate.

Last week, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), whose daughter is dependent on EpiPens, demanded a hearing over the dramatic price hike.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Remember Martin Shkreli? He was the hedge fund manager who bought a life-saving AIDS drug and then raised its price overnight by more than 5,500 percent. Yeah, that dude. Well he’s not the only one giving Big Pharma a bad name. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch is the newest pharmaceutical exec to face similar criticism after she struggled to justify hiking the price of the EpiPen by more than 400 percent in the past decade.

Mylan CEO Heather Bresch is in the hot seat over EpiPen price hikes https://t.co/HuKPlKO2G5 pic.twitter.com/fnLFFZU7C6

— Fortune (@FortuneMagazine) August 24, 2016

“No one is more frustrated than me,” Bresch told CNBC “Squawk Box” on Thursday when asked to explain the exorbitant price increase and why Mylan can’t cut the price of the drug. Bresch tried to argue that the problem isn’t with Mylan and other pharmaceutical companies, but rather a broken health-care system that often forces consumers to pay the full retail price for prescription medications.

Bresch explained in a press release,

We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines at the pharmacy counter. Patients deserve increased price transparency and affordable care, particularly as the system shifts significant costs to them.

A standard two-pack of EpiPens now costs about $600, but in 2009 the cost was only $100. Mylan announced Thursday plans to cover up to $300 of out-of-pocket pharmacy cost through the use of a savings card, reducing patient cost by 50 percent.  Previously, the savings card covered $100. The decision to increase the rebate comes a day after Hillary Clinton called out Mylan to immediately  reduce the price of EpiPens.

While this new increased rebate sounds like a step in the right direction, the drug could still cost hundreds of dollars for patients and their families who are required to replace the allergy medication each year when it expires. And as patients still pay more money, Bresch’s paycheck still continues to increase. Her salary went form roughly $2.5 million in 2007, the year of the EpiPen acquisition, to $19 million in 2015.

Bersch acknowledged that high retail prices of EpiPens in the U.S. effectively subsidize the cost of the devices when they are sold in Europe, at just $100 or $150. CNBC notes that many of the countries there have government-run health-care systems that limit drug prices charged by manufacturers, unlike the U.S.

She also repeated several times throughout the interview that Mylan is taking immediate action to help ensure that everyone who needs an EpiPen gets one. “I am hoping that this is an inflection point for this country,” Bresch said. “Our health care is in crisis. It’s no different than the mortgage financial crisis back in 2007.”

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

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