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Gilead News
I heard on the news this morning about a congressional inquiry into Gilead's pricing for Sovaldi. Here is a link:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-21/gilead-s-84-000-treatment-questioned-by-congress.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-21/gilead-s-84-000-treatment-questioned-by-congress.html
Sadly the US charges us the high co-pays for meds so other countries can have them at a nominal cost.....that is a statement from several doctors and pharmacists every time I start talking about the cost differences for meds in this country versus foreign countries. I always go to my Xifanan example but can also state that back in 90's when we started taking the interferon shots...they were expensive...but as my Irish cousins could tell me that in their country they could get the same meds for 1/20th of what I was having to pay for it.
$84,000 US is the 12 week sovaldi cost....some of us, like me, will be on it for 24 weeks...$168,000. Whoa. That doesn't even cost the lab cost for blood test and the cost of riba and let me add parking. Every time I go down to the med center it is at least 6-8 dollars for parking and $3 for gas. If I have to go several times a month...on Medicare only income...that adds up.
Hector had a good post about medicine cost versus the cost of transplants....the drug cost are high but they are nominal in the big picture of transplants that have unbelievable price tags and where the person has to take expensive meds (that the government will pay for because its a matter of life or death)
So they need to get rid of the virus...cut down on the number of transplants needed.....this year over 17,000 people are waiting on liver transplants lists...only about 3500-4500 will get one....because why...someone has to die and we don't wish that on anyone. There has to be a more acceptable way to handle all of this. I can & will ask seemingly sensible questions or suggestions from massive nights of reading to my doctor and who will say no that would work, no, no.....and I finally said stop saying no....if you can think it....you can believe it....you can make it happen....it takes someone who has the spirit to see beyond the normal and realize the possibilities of faith and believe. You and Dr. Pappas were the ones who made me believe that. Do you think we would be were we are now just by saying no? He will finally chuckle and just looked at me and say... Miss _____....you have an amazing mind...it's like a small date base computer...I am always challenged by you....and just so you know....I do think about what you say. And I do tell my colleagues. At that I said, well I'm always the class clown...he said no...you are right...we all need to challenge ourselves more and not get bogged down with the day to day.
Well, it just takes one to focus on what can be done. My first hepatologist left and went into research for HCV and Liver Disease...he handed me over to my present doctor. My original doctor is in Texas right now...has had amazing research results over the last 20 years....
We've got to step out of acceptance and norm and scream......stop this craziness...stop it now...take a chance. That what I did many, many years ago with him after I was told I had 30-60 days to put my affairs in order. I said no. Let do something....let's take a chance.
So my point is...it is the whole system....drug companies, medical institutions, insurance companies and government that need to start working together. I am sure that on any web forum I am on every time I type the word government my emails are pulled as all of ours....so maybe they see a picture....and get it.
Sorry I am all over the place with these posts but the costs of medicines just drive me crazy....it is ridiculous.
$84,000 US is the 12 week sovaldi cost....some of us, like me, will be on it for 24 weeks...$168,000. Whoa. That doesn't even cost the lab cost for blood test and the cost of riba and let me add parking. Every time I go down to the med center it is at least 6-8 dollars for parking and $3 for gas. If I have to go several times a month...on Medicare only income...that adds up.
Hector had a good post about medicine cost versus the cost of transplants....the drug cost are high but they are nominal in the big picture of transplants that have unbelievable price tags and where the person has to take expensive meds (that the government will pay for because its a matter of life or death)
So they need to get rid of the virus...cut down on the number of transplants needed.....this year over 17,000 people are waiting on liver transplants lists...only about 3500-4500 will get one....because why...someone has to die and we don't wish that on anyone. There has to be a more acceptable way to handle all of this. I can & will ask seemingly sensible questions or suggestions from massive nights of reading to my doctor and who will say no that would work, no, no.....and I finally said stop saying no....if you can think it....you can believe it....you can make it happen....it takes someone who has the spirit to see beyond the normal and realize the possibilities of faith and believe. You and Dr. Pappas were the ones who made me believe that. Do you think we would be were we are now just by saying no? He will finally chuckle and just looked at me and say... Miss _____....you have an amazing mind...it's like a small date base computer...I am always challenged by you....and just so you know....I do think about what you say. And I do tell my colleagues. At that I said, well I'm always the class clown...he said no...you are right...we all need to challenge ourselves more and not get bogged down with the day to day.
Well, it just takes one to focus on what can be done. My first hepatologist left and went into research for HCV and Liver Disease...he handed me over to my present doctor. My original doctor is in Texas right now...has had amazing research results over the last 20 years....
We've got to step out of acceptance and norm and scream......stop this craziness...stop it now...take a chance. That what I did many, many years ago with him after I was told I had 30-60 days to put my affairs in order. I said no. Let do something....let's take a chance.
So my point is...it is the whole system....drug companies, medical institutions, insurance companies and government that need to start working together. I am sure that on any web forum I am on every time I type the word government my emails are pulled as all of ours....so maybe they see a picture....and get it.
Sorry I am all over the place with these posts but the costs of medicines just drive me crazy....it is ridiculous.
added info: sovaldi states in it's pamphlet that there are options...call 1-855-769-7284 to get info.
funny thing about medicare on it's own. at the beginning of the year you have to reach a "deductible" amount before discounts on co-pays appears. It can take up to 4-6 months depending how fast you meet that deductible. In my case I have to pay almost $3000 in co-pay expenses before I get out of what they call a donut hole period and see the true co-pay amounts for my drugs. Example. In donut hole period my co-pay for Xifanan is $530....out of donut hole period my co-pay is $75. Big difference.
I don't know anything about Medicaid since I make a couple of hundred of dollars to much to qualify for it and if I applied would have to pay the difference back to the government while trying to figure out how to live on less money and still have some copay expenses. Xifanan is a drug if you get Medicare or Medicaid or both you can not get assistance. What I don't understand is that if we have to pick up the extra drug costs could they at least throw a few food stamps our way because for many out there that is what happens...they have to choose between heat...a safe environment...or food to be able to pay for drugs. I think it should be looked at individually with back-up paperwork. I worked long enough in the ER to see 5th and 6th generation Medicaid families teaching others how to scam right in the waiting room to know that the systems they have in place are wrong. They should be in place to help those who really need the help and not support woman...and as someone who also supervised and managed a 250 plus call center...people who were collecting full Medicaid and a real paycheck. It's not right. And as an employer when that knowledge came to me I had to report it. Sorry if I sound irate and I am slightly off subject but I had to work 80-110 hours a week to put my kids through IU and support them as a single mom. If I could do it...so could anyone else. At this time it's more difficult to find jobs but how come a 66 yr old, ill woman get job offers all the time. It's called attitude. If they can monitor twitter, facebook, etc. surely they can monitor the system they put in place. These programs should be in place to help the ones who need the help.
I don't know why your co-pay would be so high lovesmygolden ...was told by one of the reps if I had part D and Medicaid my co-pay could be as low as $5.... you need to make some phone calls. Now as for supplemental insurers like Blue Cross, Aetna, Humana, and the rest of them...they all have their set tiers and prices and have to be approached by the drug companies. Think is all easier to get done before you start.....what did they tell you when you started. If you are on Medicare and Medicaid how in the heck can you even pay $13,000 a month....that doesn't make any sense.
funny thing about medicare on it's own. at the beginning of the year you have to reach a "deductible" amount before discounts on co-pays appears. It can take up to 4-6 months depending how fast you meet that deductible. In my case I have to pay almost $3000 in co-pay expenses before I get out of what they call a donut hole period and see the true co-pay amounts for my drugs. Example. In donut hole period my co-pay for Xifanan is $530....out of donut hole period my co-pay is $75. Big difference.
I don't know anything about Medicaid since I make a couple of hundred of dollars to much to qualify for it and if I applied would have to pay the difference back to the government while trying to figure out how to live on less money and still have some copay expenses. Xifanan is a drug if you get Medicare or Medicaid or both you can not get assistance. What I don't understand is that if we have to pick up the extra drug costs could they at least throw a few food stamps our way because for many out there that is what happens...they have to choose between heat...a safe environment...or food to be able to pay for drugs. I think it should be looked at individually with back-up paperwork. I worked long enough in the ER to see 5th and 6th generation Medicaid families teaching others how to scam right in the waiting room to know that the systems they have in place are wrong. They should be in place to help those who really need the help and not support woman...and as someone who also supervised and managed a 250 plus call center...people who were collecting full Medicaid and a real paycheck. It's not right. And as an employer when that knowledge came to me I had to report it. Sorry if I sound irate and I am slightly off subject but I had to work 80-110 hours a week to put my kids through IU and support them as a single mom. If I could do it...so could anyone else. At this time it's more difficult to find jobs but how come a 66 yr old, ill woman get job offers all the time. It's called attitude. If they can monitor twitter, facebook, etc. surely they can monitor the system they put in place. These programs should be in place to help the ones who need the help.
I don't know why your co-pay would be so high lovesmygolden ...was told by one of the reps if I had part D and Medicaid my co-pay could be as low as $5.... you need to make some phone calls. Now as for supplemental insurers like Blue Cross, Aetna, Humana, and the rest of them...they all have their set tiers and prices and have to be approached by the drug companies. Think is all easier to get done before you start.....what did they tell you when you started. If you are on Medicare and Medicaid how in the heck can you even pay $13,000 a month....that doesn't make any sense.
I'm glad someone is investigating this cost. I'm on a 12 week course of Sovaldi/Olysio and my copay is close to $13,000. I have Medicare Part D Rx plan and have found that a lot of the assistance programs exclude people with Medicare and Medicaid. It's criminal.
The $84000 will make it prohibitive for other countries. Will take another 2-3 New Zealand to have it approved. I really do not believe that the manufacturing costs are so high, however the research would have cost a lot
I have read once that a human life has a cost and itr was more than one million so from an economic perspective governments will save money even with this high cost.
New Zealand just approved Boceprovir couple of months back where Incivek did not make it yet. Our luck here is that we are a small country and many of the HCV patients are enrolled in trials. But many others in Europe for example do not have this luxury. There are countries where average monthly income is $100-150. How would they ever get any of these drugs?
Not to mention that in those countries the majority of the HCV patients have been infected by medical staff due to inadequate hygiene. Yet nobody will take the responsibility and pay for their medication.
I have read once that a human life has a cost and itr was more than one million so from an economic perspective governments will save money even with this high cost.
New Zealand just approved Boceprovir couple of months back where Incivek did not make it yet. Our luck here is that we are a small country and many of the HCV patients are enrolled in trials. But many others in Europe for example do not have this luxury. There are countries where average monthly income is $100-150. How would they ever get any of these drugs?
Not to mention that in those countries the majority of the HCV patients have been infected by medical staff due to inadequate hygiene. Yet nobody will take the responsibility and pay for their medication.
Thanks for posting the link for the Gilead story and congress. I sure hope they look into why this medicine is so high. I am only on disability so I may not even get it. So sad these places are so greedy that it does not matter the peoples lives that are being saved daily, just the almighty dollar. They are no different than terrorists in my opinion. I can see no reason why they should charge that high amount, Of course I am not a expert but I doubt their reasoning.
new drugs are always expensive. one good thing about the sovaldi is that the doctors and drug company have outs for that. I am getting ready to take sovaldi and my co-pay if I had to pay out of pocket was $3200. per month but they have programs to help you pay for it or they absorb the costs. So the government can yada-yada-yada about pricing...why don't they focus on this AND drugs that have been available for a long time...like Xifanan....if I lived in Canada it would cost me $170 before co-pays...but here in US it is $1300-1400 a month before co-pay...
Preventative medicine cuts down on health care and hospital costs. It is ridiculous what we get charged.....it's the system..... Complain all they want...guess they would rather have more disabled people and do more transplants and pay for life long immenos for the rest of that person's life...wow...that's cheaper. NOT.
Preventative medicine cuts down on health care and hospital costs. It is ridiculous what we get charged.....it's the system..... Complain all they want...guess they would rather have more disabled people and do more transplants and pay for life long immenos for the rest of that person's life...wow...that's cheaper. NOT.
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