The cost of Enzalutamide (Xtandi) in the United States is being challenged by Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), a public interest advocacy group. The average US wholesale price of Xtandi in 2015 was $88 per capsule. That can add up to $129,000 annual cost per man. There are significant issues related to high costs of treatment. [...]
In an article in Time (3/7 Sweetland Edwards) there is a discussion about the failure of the Affordable Care Act to stop patients from receiving “surprise” bills from their medical providers for services provided. These surprises result from people going to a medical facility, which is in their Network but having some service, provided by [...]
I have been relatively quiet about the skyrocketing cost of drugs, but it has now become impossible to remain out of the fray. A Pharmaceutical company recently acquired a drug called Daraprim, the drug treats potentially fatal parasitic infections. After its acquisition the company raised the price of Daraprim by almost 5,0000%. When confronted with [...]
I have been informed that it is now possible for men in need of the treatment Xofigo to obtain it without having to pay any co-pays. The program that is making this possible is called Xofigo Access Services and is designed to make Xofigo available for men with a commercial medical insurance policy (not medicaid [...]
There is a lot of evidence that pre-treatment rehabilitation (prehabilitation or pre-hab) both speeds up and benefits a patient’s recovery after surgical orthopedic treatment for knee and hip replacement as well as cardiac conditions. Having pre-hab, which is often covered by insurance after orthopedic surgery, is pretty standard. Now, based on an article published in [...]
In the treatment of prostate cancer the first very expensive drug we had that was FDA approved was Provenge, with an initial cost of $93,000 for a one-month’s treatment protocol. Today, the cost is in excess of $106,000. According to the phase III clinical trial result Provenge extends life by a median of 4.1 months, [...]
Cancer survivors have many additional problems in their life. I guess the most significant problem is that we have a life threatening illness. So, why are we forced to have to worry if our medications will be paid for or if we are able to afford to pay for them? When we are fighting for [...]
According to Prostate Cancer UK The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released its second draft decision on the availability of radium-223 (Xofigo). Different from the original draft this draft recommends that radium-223 be made available on the NHS for men with advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormone therapy [...]
You have cancer and now you need to add a new battle, with your insurance company because they have denied your request to cover a certain drug or a treatment. Going to your health insurer is always frustrating and time-consuming. They don't care if what you need will extend your life or make living better, [...]
All of the Americans who receive their insurance benefits from Medicare need to become aware that the Medicare Open Enrollment Period will begin this coming October 15. What is the Medicare open enrollment period?During this open enrollment period you can make new choices and pick plans that work best for you depending upon your doctors [...]
