[jmsdcs]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by jmsdcs on Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:50 pm

I posted earlier about the high cost of Revlimid and I also wrote letters to The New York Times and The Washington Post about this issue. Needless to say they were not published. However I would echo the last post about the Chronic Disease fund - they do help, so if you are having problems affording the drug contact them.

[suzierose]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by suzierose on Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:25 pm

Hi Reframingham and Mark,

Here is a link to disclosures from ASH:

http://hematology.org/Meetings/Annual-Meeting/Friday-Satellite-Symposia/3698.aspx

[Nipon Ginko]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by Nipon Ginko on Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:09 pm

Back in 2004 the cost of my Thalidomide for 10 months was $30,000 , I only had to absorb a very small portion of that thru co pay's , My consern is what is this New Health Plan going to do to us, even with out the New Plan being in effect - some of the Drugs I'm takeing have jumped in price not into the range of these cancer drugs , actually what happened was for some reason our current Government made changes on which drugs Medicare will cover -I am taking a Drug called Salsalate (its an antinflamitory) for my Back pain =I was paying $20 co pay for a months supply & now it is $120 Medicare pays nothing ??? Is this just the first of Managed care taking over & saying you don't need this or your to old we are giving you No Medicine as you are co$ting the $ystem too much ! Didn't our Northern Brothers at least have the compasion to pack snow in their aged relatives mouth & nose before setting them adrift on a small Ice flow in the Artic Ocean ? N.G.

[chemoune]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by chemoune on Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:02 am

Nipon Ginko wrote:
> Back in 2004 the cost of my Thalidomide for 10 months was $30,000 , I only
> had to absorb a very small portion of that thru co pay's , My consern is
> what is this New Health Plan going to do to us, even with out the New Plan
> being in effect - some of the Drugs I'm takeing have jumped in price not
> into the range of these cancer drugs , actually what happened was for some
> reason our current Government made changes on which drugs Medicare will
> cover -I am taking a Drug called Salsalate (its an antinflamitory) for my
> Back pain =I was paying $20 co pay for a months supply & now it is $120
> Medicare pays nothing ??? Is this just the first of Managed care taking
> over & saying you don't need this or your to old we are giving you No
> Medicine as you are co$ting the $ystem too much ! Didn't our Northern
> Brothers at least have the compasion to pack snow in their aged relatives
> mouth & nose before setting them adrift on a small Ice flow in the
> Artic Ocean ? N.G.
Find out they do have places that will pick up the co pay for you just ask around good luck!

[Olive]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by Olive on Thu May 17, 2012 9:01 pm

My dad is 94 and was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma. His Dr. prescribed Revlimid. Dad's insurance had maxed out. I didn't want to upset Dad and tried to hide the cost from him so I agreed to pay for the Revlimid. It was nearly $8,000 on my credit card. He took it for a few days and had a bad reaction. Now Celgene, the manufacturer, is demanding that his assisted living center return the remaining pills to them to be destroyed. I want to hold onto them or donate them to someone else who needs help paying for them.

Revlimid is NOT a controlled substance and I don't understand why I cannot keep it until we determine if Dad might be able to try it again.

Can anyone help me with this? Thank you!j

[Art]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by Art on Fri May 18, 2012 1:21 pm

How about that? You paid for the Drug and They want it back. Interesting! I don't know anything about this but, it seems a bit absurd! I would assume they won't reuse it as its safety could now be in question. So, are they going to refund your $$. No, of course not right? This will be interesting to follow. Please keep us posted. I am glad your Dad has lived such a long life this far and I am sorry to hear of his Diagnosis.
Thanks and Gods blessings
Art

[Olive]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by Olive on Sat May 19, 2012 9:21 am

Thanks Art. It's always good to know someone cares. God's blessings on you as well. I will keep you posted.

[terryl1]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by terryl1 on Sun May 20, 2012 12:36 pm

Hi Olive, if the company does not offer to reimburse your money, contact the Public Advocate or the Attorney General's office for the state you live in. The FDA may also have a complaint line. CALL IT!!!!!! Most states' have a consumer affairs office within their Attorney General's office. Call them and complain. Also, contact the MMRF and the IMF and raise hell. Someone in one of those organizations will know who to contact at Celgene to get you a partial rebate. On top of everything, you don't need this crap. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Christa's Mom]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by Christa's Mom on Wed May 23, 2012 10:32 am

Interesting article in today's Washington Post about how pharma's are using loopholes to withold drugs from generic manufacturers to prevent them from having a generic available when patents expire. Revlimid and Celgene were explicitly named in the article! Thought you'd all be interested. Hope the link works.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/generic-drug-makers-complaints-over-distribution-law-provoke-investigations/2012/05/22/gIQAhExKiU_story.html

Lyn

[suzierose]

Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?

by suzierose on Wed May 23, 2012 3:42 pm

Thanks Christa's mom.

The FDA should simply request samples for bioavailability testing.
Any generic firm could then receive the samples they need from the FDA vs. Celgene.