Elaine
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Posts posted by Elaine
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Apparently, some Doctor's offices are still telling people on Medicare that Medicare won't cover IRESSA. until 2006. That is not the case, but you need to apply now, as the benefit is limited...
Thousands to Get Coverage for Cancer Drugs Under Medicare Demo Program
Yahoo news
June 25, 2004
Some 25,000 cancer patients on Medicare (news - web sites) will soon be able to get coverage for life-saving chemotherapy drugs that are not currently paid for by the agency.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is beginning a lottery process to select patients who will receive the drug coverage more than a year before it becomes available to all Medicare beneficiaries in January, 2006.
The American Cancer Society (news - web sites) lobbied for the transitional coverage -- called a demonstration program -- as part of the Medicare reform law passed last year.
"It's definitely a victory," said Wendy Selig, vice president of legislative affairs for ACS. "While it's not going to meet every need of every person out there, it's certainly going to make a difference to those 25,000 people."
Medicare currently offers coverage of chemotherapy drugs that are given in a doctor's office, intravenously or by injection, as well as pill versions of these drugs. But many newer drugs are available only as pills that a patient can take at home; these drugs typically have not been covered. Because many of these medications are very expensive, many Medicare beneficiaries cannot afford them on their own.
Cost Savings on 11 Cancer Drugs
The new demonstration project will make 11 of these drugs available as early as September, at substantially lower prices:
. Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) for chronic myelogenous leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumor
. Bexarotene (Targretin) for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
. Temozolomide (Temodar) for anaplastic astrocytoma
. Altretamine (Hexalen) for epithelial ovarian cancer
. Thalidomide (Thalomid) for multiple myeloma
. Gefitinib (Iressa) for non-small cell lung cancer
. Letrozole (Femara) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
. Exemestane (Aromasin) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
. Anastrozole (Arimidex) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
. Toremifene (Fareston) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (news - web sites), most patients can expect to save 55% to 90% off the cost of these drugs. People with lower incomes will save even more. Gleevec, for instance, retails for nearly $46,000 a year. Under the demonstration program, HHS said, the drug will cost about $5,298 for most beneficiaries, a savings of 88%. Low income patients may be charged only $638, while those closest to the federal poverty level will pay as little as $60.
More than a dozen non-cancer drugs will also be discounted under the program for 25,000 other beneficiaries with serious diseases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and hepatitis C.
Apply Early for Quickest Benefits
To qualify for the program, a patient must have Medicare Part A and B, have Medicare as their primary insurer, and not have drug coverage through another plan. Only people in the 50 US states and the District of Columbia may apply.
Patients can begin applying for benefits on July 6. They must submit the official application form, and a certification from their doctor confirming their need for a specific drug. Recipients will be selected at random.
Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2004. People who get their applications in by August 16, however, will be part of an early selection process that could get them coverage sooner -- by September 1.
The people chosen to receive the drug benefit will be notified in writing and will receive a special drug discount card (a different card than those already available to all beneficiaries for other drug purchases) that can be used at some local pharmacies or through a mail order service.
The demonstration program will run through December 31, 2005; after that date, all Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible to enroll in the drug coverage plan.
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Paddy,
Iressa can be covered under Medicare now. You need to apply ASAP as the benefit is subject to limitations--only a certain amount of money has been set aside.
Thousands to Get Coverage for Cancer Drugs Under Medicare Demo Program
Yahoo news
June 25, 2004
Some 25,000 cancer patients on Medicare (news - web sites) will soon be able to get coverage for life-saving chemotherapy drugs that are not currently paid for by the agency.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is beginning a lottery process to select patients who will receive the drug coverage more than a year before it becomes available to all Medicare beneficiaries in January, 2006.
The American Cancer Society (news - web sites) lobbied for the transitional coverage -- called a demonstration program -- as part of the Medicare reform law passed last year.
"It's definitely a victory," said Wendy Selig, vice president of legislative affairs for ACS. "While it's not going to meet every need of every person out there, it's certainly going to make a difference to those 25,000 people."
Medicare currently offers coverage of chemotherapy drugs that are given in a doctor's office, intravenously or by injection, as well as pill versions of these drugs. But many newer drugs are available only as pills that a patient can take at home; these drugs typically have not been covered. Because many of these medications are very expensive, many Medicare beneficiaries cannot afford them on their own.
Cost Savings on 11 Cancer Drugs
The new demonstration project will make 11 of these drugs available as early as September, at substantially lower prices:
. Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) for chronic myelogenous leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumor
. Bexarotene (Targretin) for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
. Temozolomide (Temodar) for anaplastic astrocytoma
. Altretamine (Hexalen) for epithelial ovarian cancer
. Thalidomide (Thalomid) for multiple myeloma
. Gefitinib (Iressa) for non-small cell lung cancer
. Letrozole (Femara) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
. Exemestane (Aromasin) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
. Anastrozole (Arimidex) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
. Toremifene (Fareston) for stages 2-4 breast cancer
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (news - web sites), most patients can expect to save 55% to 90% off the cost of these drugs. People with lower incomes will save even more. Gleevec, for instance, retails for nearly $46,000 a year. Under the demonstration program, HHS said, the drug will cost about $5,298 for most beneficiaries, a savings of 88%. Low income patients may be charged only $638, while those closest to the federal poverty level will pay as little as $60.
More than a dozen non-cancer drugs will also be discounted under the program for 25,000 other beneficiaries with serious diseases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and hepatitis C.
Apply Early for Quickest Benefits
To qualify for the program, a patient must have Medicare Part A and B, have Medicare as their primary insurer, and not have drug coverage through another plan. Only people in the 50 US states and the District of Columbia may apply.
Patients can begin applying for benefits on July 6. They must submit the official application form, and a certification from their doctor confirming their need for a specific drug. Recipients will be selected at random.
Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2004. People who get their applications in by August 16, however, will be part of an early selection process that could get them coverage sooner -- by September 1.
The people chosen to receive the drug benefit will be notified in writing and will receive a special drug discount card (a different card than those already available to all beneficiaries for other drug purchases) that can be used at some local pharmacies or through a mail order service.
The demonstration program will run through December 31, 2005; after that date, all Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible to enroll in the drug coverage plan.
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I guess the sad thing about this is that the person who apparently wrote the "wrong thing" has not posted since. This is not the first time a person who someone/anyone has believed has said the wrong thing has not posted again.--not to mention the people I know of who quit posting when their treatments stop working because they don't want others to lose hope. Or those who keep what is really happening to them inside themselves for the same reasons.
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Thank you Peggy. I agree with it all.
elaine
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Great news, Cat!
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Jane
It's beautiful. I enjoyed reading about your brother.
elaine
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My heart is breaking for you and your wife.
love
elaine
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Thank goodness, Karen. I have been waiting and sending good vibes your way.
elaine
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Ann
I hope no one thinks that I think that people shouldnt post about the deaths of loved ones. I think people should post what they need to post. There are appropriate sections for posts and we can always put warnings on them. I am responsible for what I choose to read, an I can stop reading if I am in over my head.
I have learned a great deal from all of you.
love
elaine
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He has not opened PMs since then either.
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Welcome back Jim.
elaine
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Thnaks Ann and Becky,
I'll tell my story:-- the very short version.
Unfortunately for me, I knew way too much before I was even DXed. Before I even went to the Dr, I think I knew what was up with me. I found this site before i was Dxed. I lurked then. It made it harder for me to go to the Dr.
Yes, I did see hope here, but I saw more than that. I saw stories, detailed stories about deaths and pain. This site scared me, maybe more than most other places that are more Medical in nature, because those sites deal with things in a more clinical way.
Sure I saw other stories, but I also saw that cancer is often stronger than hope and human will. When I finally talked to a medical professional, I got some of my questions answered as to what I was seeing here. I am not going to say what I was told because it might take away the hope of some, who look to others who are surviving longer than the stats. Part of that has to do with the very REAL fact that the stats ARE old. Plus, now that I don't trust my medical prosfessionals, maybe they fed me a line of baloney--but some of that baloney, I have been able to verify. I am a researcher, by nature and by schooling. Sometimes, ignorance, could be bliss. I mean that in a postive manner. There are things I wish I didn't know, and things I know that I don't really have the background to truly understand, and things I may have miskewed.
I guess my point is that all of us "see" things differently and "see" different things. Numbers have never been all that important to me, as I don't much understand them. Stories, and what is even worse sometimes, is parts of stories. For me it is the part of the story that I don't "see" or "hear' that scares me most, sometimes.
I hope this makes sense. I understand that statistics are gruesome for some and Becky and I Pmed yesterday about why stage IV statistics are in some way easier than Stage III numbers.
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Ginny
You are entitled to an occasional pity party, as you wrote to Nancy B. It seems unfair that normal life problems don't stop when major ones are hitting us. There should be a rule about that.
Earl remains in my thoughts and prayers, as well as you and the rest of the family. You are doing a wonderful and caring job of seeing to it that Earl is comfortable and his needs are met. You, too, are a hero.
elaine
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I thought that we as a group had decided that we all could post what we thought was appropriate but if we had questions about it then we should label the posts with a warning and give the post a descriptive enough title so that people knew whether or not they wished to open the post.
Again, I am going to say that what I, for example, find upsetting, is not what someone else finds upsetting. I would be happy to give a list of upsetting posts, but I would not ever ask that someone not post something just because it might upset me. (I really won't give a list of upsetting posts because I don't want to make the person who posted feel bad about making me feel bad). maybe off board, I wouild....
So again, I am asking more specifically what is and what is not appropriate that my bestest friends Cat and Becky are saying amen to. NOT because I am being antagonistic, but because it is not clear. It could turn out that nothing except the most bland of questions and reports would be things that would NOT upset someone.
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Disclaimer: When I was writing about people being in denial, I was referring to people in my own life and my experience with being in denial. I did not intend to suggest that anyone on the board is in denial.
I will say that denial is one coping method and that it isn't necessarily always negative.
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Jim
It doesnt' make sense to me either. Especially the squamous cell DX. Maybe small cell, but not squamous from all I have read and all the posts here.
I am so sorry for you loss. Is there anyway you can have the biopsy's re-read--sent to another lab. Maybe send all of her records. Just for your peace of mind.
elaine
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Great news! I also want to plug my favorite political party. Not only do they support stem cell research but ALSO good health care and health insurance for EVERYONE!!!!!
elaine
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Phyliss
So good to hear from you! How is your daughter? I think of you so often.
Pls post when you feel you can.
elaine
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Diane
I am not sure how it is that we are disagreeing. I think we agree. Anyway, I am agreeing with you. I don't really want to be around doom and gloom, but what is also very hard is being around complete denial. I have to fight both gloom/doom and denial within myself from time to time. But when I want or need to talk about the reality of what I am facing AND the possibility of what I could face, it is so hard to be met with denial. I know intellectually, that it is probable that such persons are really tryng to protect themselves not only from the pain they may be feeling about losing me, but also about their own unreconciled fears etc about their own mortality.
It's hard all the way around.
love
elaine
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Cheryl
I too was blessed with a vacation from cancer this weekend. It only entered my mind a hundred times, lol. But when it was gone it was gloriously gone!!!!
I am glad you had one too. As for my fuse, it's a long one too and I am married to a short one. Can't imagine two short ones in the same house!!!
With you all the way
elaine
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Becky
No, I dont really know what you mean. What is an example of someone treading on the hope of another.?
Maybe you can answer in a PM. I should have asked in a PM.
elaine
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I appreciate everything that all of you wrote.
I think there are several things we need to remember, in my opinion
1. There is no right and wrong response to the Dx be it of ourselves or someone we love. No one should judge the pain of another.
2. The statistics for lung cancer may have improved, though the latest ones released are nearly as dismal as the previous ones. If we ignore that fact, then we won't do the kinds of things necessary to try to get adequate funding for research for cures and treatments.
3. There is NO person who is without hope. Hope is hardwired into the human body, mind and soul.
4. Even the most hopeful of person can not and often does not beat certain stages and forms and histiologies of cancer. To not accept this fact, places an inordinate amount of blame on the person with cancer and possibly his or her family and loved ones.
5. Sometimes we write things in such a way that we arent really saying what we mean. Sometimes language fails us or we fail it.
6. No one person on the board is more important nor necessarily wiser than another.
7. I hope we don't end up as a place where people are ashamed or afraid to voice their true opinions, thoughts or feelings.
elaine
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No words can adequately express my sadness. I keep thinking of the children--the children of all of you-. My only comfort is knowing that you will gather around them and offer them the love and support that you know they will need. Terry is counting on that.
I am a better person for having known you all.
love
elaine
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Tess
May you find comfort and peace in the days ahead. Thank you for sharing the wonderful man who is your husband and all the good that he did in this life. Saturday's moon was a blue moon, now in more ways than one.
love
elaine
NSCLC Preventive Brain Radiation Clinical Trial
in CLINICAL TRIALS
Posted
Thanks
I guess this sort of answers the question I had last week. Apparently they are considering doing PCI with non-small cell. Thanks for the link.
elaine