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CVS Pharmacy will hurt many cancer patients by removing dozens of cancer treatment drugs, like leukemia drug Tasigna, prostate cancer drug Xtandi and chemotherapy treatment drug Neupogen, from their formulary, starting in 2017. CVS claims these drugs cost too much. Go ahead and tell that to my insurance provider and Medicare but don’t stop selling these drugs to me and millions of cancer patients.
It’s our belief that CVS is putting profit above the care of cancer patients.
If CVS can make money by selling cheap cosmetics and imported cookies, then, we imagine that CVS can make money off of lifesaving drugs.
CVS says there are other drugs that work just as well for most patients. But “most” is not “all patients.” That’s why doctors prescribe different drugs to different patients.
CVS Pharmacy is currently the largest pharmacy chain in the United States. For many American’s, CVS is the only pharmacy for miles around. If CVS hurts cancer patients, CVS will become a face of evil. Now, it’s up to us to make phone calls, write letters or send emails to change the course of this wrongheaded move.
Tell CVS’ Medical Director to maintain all FDA approved cancer drugs in their formulary, not just the ones that give CVS the most profit:
troyen.brennan@cvshealth.com
401-770-4801 and 401-651-3137
Troyen Brennan, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Director
CVS Health
One CVS Drive
Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895
CVS’ Christine Cramer?Senior Director, Corporate Communications has replied with the following:
The drugs continue to be available at CVS Pharmacy. The formulary change is
relevant only for those patients for whom CVS Caremark is their PBM (pharmacy
benefit manager) and whose insurance provider or employer has adopted the standard
formulary. CVS Pharmacy accepts a wide variety of insurance plans that are not
impacted by this formulary decision.
Also, I want to clarify that those patients who are already receiving Xtandi will
not have their treatment interrupted, but would be allowed to continue on their
therapy. In addition, for those new patients who have a specific requirement for
treatment with Xtandi, there is a formulary exception process in place as a means to
access the drug.
Please also know that their response to the injustices against the Black community in America has been extremely lack luster and insulting. They truly deserve to be boycotted.
Appalled to have found this article while frantically searching the web to see why my father is having such a hard time refilling his xtandi prescription all of a sudden. The only change was his insurance provider switched “speciality pharmacies” and now uses CVS Care Mark Specialty Pharmacy. Disgusting.. CVS puts financial gains over patient health.