King County paramedics develop EpiPen alternative - for a fraction of the cost

SEATTLE -- The small plastic box is about the size of a photo frame; what's inside, however, is the picture of cost savings -- and saving lives.

King County Emergency Medical Services began producing the injection kits in 2013 as a low-cost alternative to the EpiPen, an auto-injector used to treat allergic reactions. The price of EpiPens has skyrocketed to $600 from about $50 over the past nine years, recently drawing scrutiny -- and a congressional investigation.

Each county-produced Epi Kit costs between $15 and $20, and includes alcohol wipes, two syringes, and a dose of adrenaline. Officials estimate they are now saving King County taxpayers about $250,000 annually.

"This is just one of the innovative programs we were able to develop," said Jim Duren, health services administrator for King County EMS. "By treating [patients] early, what happens is then they have a shorter hospital stay, they get back into the community in a faster time frame."

Duren, a paramedic for decades, was on the county team that helped develop the kits. One of the benefits to the current model, he said, is that medication can be replaced for a few dollars once it expires, rather than having to replace the entire device.

The kits were developed around the same time the county shifted focus on treatment, administering the drug to patients even with mild symptoms.

"I would say we're treating people better, and that was my focus," said Jon Nolan, medical services officer with King County Medic One. "Certainly nobody's going to die in King County from an allergic reaction because we're so aggressive with treating them."

King County EMS sells the kits to fire departments across the country and the state, with training and information available on its website. Paramedics from Alaska, Wisconsin, Wyoming and more have also adopted the county's model and purchase the Epi Kits.

Officials caution that the kits are not made for public purchase or use -- but hope more departments across the country will follow their lead.

"The earlier we treat patients, the better the outcome," Duren continued. "We're looking after the community and we're working with the community to make a safer place."