I received a very disturbing notice from Cancer Care about their ability to provide financial support for men with cancer, including men with prostate cancer. As of August 6, 2012 they will not be able to accept applications or provide assistance to men with cancer unless they meet the following criteria: 1- Men diagnosed with [...]
At a recent meeting that I attended it was reported by a nurse that one of her patients with advanced prostate cancer with only a PSA recurrence and lymph node involvement on a scan was rejected by their insurance company for reimbursement for Provenge. The insurance company indicated that to pay for the treatment they [...]
Cancer Care has announced two changes in their financial assistance program procedures. These changes take effect immediately: 1- Applications for assistance will not be accepted unless the applicant has spoken to a Cancer Care representative in advance of filling out the application. To apply contact a Cancer Care oncology social worker via their toll-free Hopeline, [...]
Yesterday May 16, 2012, the House Appropriations Committee released their draft committee report to accompany the FY13 Defense Appropriations Act. This draft included the CDMRP requested budget for 2013. The good news is that the ask includes $80 million dollars for the Prostate Cancer Research Program. Although this is the same amount prostate cancer received [...]
Historically, I have been critical of the FDA, especially around the delay of the approval of Provenge. Now, it is time to take a look at the FDA and what I believe the future will be for this agency. I do first need to make it clear that I do believe that the FDA plays [...]
Abstract No:101 at the recent ASCO Conference It is sad, but it is true, a subset of men presenting with advanced prostate cancer never receive proper therapy. This can be attributed to a variety of factors including poor functional status, co-morbidities, and patient preference. The researchers sought to determine the prevalence, and characteristics, of this [...]
I woke up this morning to some potentially good news. Last night the congressional committee finalized their reconciliation report and filed the final FY12 Omnibus Report. I am over joyed to report that the Report included the Peer Reviewed Compressional Directed Medical Research Programs that had become the target of budget cutters. Many of us [...]
We have just reached a red letter moment in the area of medical insurance. The provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires medical insurers to spend 80% of the consumers’ premium dollars they collect—85% for large group insurers—on actual medical care rather than overhead, marketing expenses and profit just kicked in to effect. This [...]
OK, I give up. I clearly don’t understand American politics! A new House proposal puts research funding at center of broader FY2012 budget debate, but not the way I would have predicted. In a surprise move the Republican House leaders released a draft proposal that would increase fiscal year 2012 funding for the National Institutes [...]
The United States Veterans Administration (VA) has announced that, like those who served in Vietnam, veterans who served in Thailand maybe be entitled to VA benefits. Those who had served at one of the military bases in Thailand listed in the below URL and the locations at those bases identified, and experiencing any of the [...]
