You remember a guy named Martin Shkreli? If his name rings a bell, it’s probably because back in 2015, he jacked up the price of an old drug — from around $13 a pill to $750. The media dubbed him “the pharma bro,” and he became a symbol of brazen pharmaceutical greed. 

Now, he’s the namesake for the Shkreli Awards — a kind of Oscars for the most outrageous examples of greed, fraud, and general brokenness in American health care. 

Every year, a health care think tank called the Lown Institute ranks the top ten worst stories and holds an award ceremony to “honor” the winners. 

We’re bringing you highlights from this year’s ceremony – featuring things like human bones for sale without the consent of the deceased or their families, phantom urinary catheters, and so much more – and some reflections from the Lown Institute’s president, Dr. Vikas Saini. 

“Showing all these stories together paints a picture of a health care system in desperate need of transformation,” Saini said at the ceremony. “Not just because the stories are shocking, but because often what they're depicting, like Martin Shkreli's infamous price hike, is perfectly legal.” 

Here’s a transcript of this episode. 

Send your stories and questions. Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.

Of course we’d love for you to support this show.

You remember a guy named Martin Shkreli? If his name rings a bell, it&rsquo;s probably because back in 2015, he jacked up the price of an old drug &mdash; from around $13 a pill to $750. The media dubbed him &ldquo;the pharma bro,&rdquo; and he became a symbol of brazen pharmaceutical greed.&nbsp;
Now, he&rsquo;s the namesake for the <a href="https://lowninstitute.org/projects/2024-shkreli-awards/">Shkreli Awards</a> &mdash; a kind of Oscars for the most outrageous examples of greed, fraud, and general brokenness in American health care.&nbsp;
Every year, a health care think tank called the <a href="https://lowninstitute.org/">Lown Institute</a> ranks the top ten worst stories and holds an award ceremony to &ldquo;honor&rdquo; the winners.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re bringing you highlights from this year&rsquo;s ceremony &ndash; featuring things like human bones for sale without the consent of the deceased or their families, phantom urinary catheters, and so much more &ndash; and some reflections from the Lown Institute&rsquo;s president, Dr. Vikas Saini.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Showing all these stories together paints a picture of a health care system in desperate need of transformation,&rdquo; Saini said at the ceremony. &ldquo;Not just because the stories are shocking, but because often what they're depicting, like Martin Shkreli's infamous price hike, is perfectly legal.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<a href="Here&rsquo;s a transcript of this episode.&nbsp;">Here&rsquo;s a transcript of this episode</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/contact/">Send your stories and questions.</a> Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.
Of course we&rsquo;d love for you to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">support this show</a>.

An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.

If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart. 

An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.

You can support An Arm and a Leg by donating at armandalegshow.com/support/

Show Credits: Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.
If you&rsquo;ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you&rsquo;re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting &mdash; you&rsquo;re not always helpless. We don&rsquo;t have all the answers, but we&rsquo;ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart.&nbsp;
An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/">KFF Health News</a> and distributed in partnership with <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>.
You can support An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;by donating at <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">armandalegshow.com/support/</a>
<hr>
Show Credits:&nbsp;Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg

The Lown Institute’s contest for this year’s most outrageous stories of greed in health care.

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