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Cost-sharing Creates Barrier to Treating Life-threatening Illness


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#1 Buzzm1

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Posted 12 April 2016 - 03:06 PM

Cost-sharing Creates Barrier to Treating Life-threatening Illness http://bit.ly/23smzR1

 

The second study examined the impact of high cost sharing for specialty drugs under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit on patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).2 A class of oral specialty drugs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), has revolutionized the treatment of CML, largely transforming it into a chronic condition and enabling many patients to have a near-normal lifespan, particularly compared with a median survival of less than 3 years with prior therapies. This study was published in a supplement sponsored by the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation.

 

The researchers analyzed Medicare data on patients with newly diagnosed CML and compared patients with low-income subsidies and nominal out-of-pocket costs to patients with average out-of-pocket costs of $2600 or more for their first 30-day TKI prescription.

 

Patients in the high-cost group were significantly less likely (45.3% vs. 66.9%) to have a Part D claim for a TKI prescription within 6 months of their CML diagnosis, compared to the subsidized, low cost-sharing group. Those in the high cost-sharing group also took twice as long, on average, to initiate TKI treatment.


For the benefit of yourself and others please add your CML history into your Signature

 

02/2010 Gleevec 400mg

2011 Two weakly positives, PCRU, weakly positive

2012 PCRU, PCRU, PCRU, PCRU

2013 PCRU, PCRU, PCRU, weakly positive

2014 PCRU, PCRU, PCRU, PCRU (12/07 began dose reduction w/each continuing PCRU)

2015 300, 250, 200, 150

2016 100, 50/100, 100, 10/17 TFR

2017 01/17 TFR, 04/18 TFR, 07/18 TFR 0.0012, 08/29 TFR 0.001, 10/17 TFR 0.000

2018 01/16 TFR 0.0004 ... next quarterly PCR 04/17

 

At the earliest opportunity, and whenever possible, lower your TKI dosage; TKIs are toxic drugs and the less we take longterm the better off we are going to be ... this is especially true for older adults.  

 

In hindsight I should have started my dosage reduction two years earlier; it might have helped minimize some of the longterm cumulative toxic effects of TKIs that I am beset with.  

 

longterm side-effects Peripheral Artery Disease - legs (it's a bitch); continuing shoulder problems, right elbow inflammation.   GFR and creatinine vastly improved after stopping Gleevec.

 

Cumulative Gleevec dosage estimated at 830 grams

 

Taking Gleevec 400mg an hour after my largest meal of the day helped eliminate the nausea that Gleevec is notorious for.  

 

Trey's CML BlogStopping - The OddsStop Studies - Discussion Forum Cessation Study

Big PhRMA - Medicare Status - Social Security Status - Deficit/Debt


#2 tiredblood

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Posted 12 April 2016 - 10:44 PM

Six months is a long time to wait after someone finds out they have a form of leukemia. Although chronic, that is sure to have negative effects on ones emotions and sense of wellbeing.




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