Drug expense question

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laurettas
laurettas Member Posts: 372
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Just have a quick question. It seemed that I remember reading that the company that makes Avastin only charges a certain amount per person per year--something like $50,000. Is that true and does the same apply for Erbitux?

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  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #2
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    You may be referring to this:
    Avastin

    Or this:

    Erbitux
  • laurettas
    laurettas Member Posts: 372
    #3
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    Buckwirth said:

    You may be referring to this:
    Avastin

    Or this:

    Erbitux

    Thanks, Blake,
    I was thinking more of the patient assistance program mentioned here:

    http://www.njsom.org/pdf/AvastinAnnouncement.pdf

    Someday I promise I will take the time to learn how to do a clickable link!
  • tanstaafl
    tanstaafl Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #4
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    expense example
    Lauretta, if it not asking to too much, could you share a typical month's total charges for FOLFOX - Avastin, vs FOLFIRI - Erbitux with minor breakouts for various minor meds combined, hospital, and facility charges ? It would help to understand others' sources of cost under various conditions, to plan and compare. Thanks.
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #5
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    laurettas said:

    Thanks, Blake,
    I was thinking more of the patient assistance program mentioned here:

    http://www.njsom.org/pdf/AvastinAnnouncement.pdf

    Someday I promise I will take the time to learn how to do a clickable link!

    Your Wish is My Command
    Tutorial: How to make  Clickable Link
  • daBeachBum
    daBeachBum Member Posts: 164
    #6
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    Found this
    Hey Laurettas,

    I did some Googling and found this. I hope it's of use to you. You may also want to look into the "Navigator" program from Livestrong.org, I hear great things about it...

    www.destinationaccess.com/
    www.avastin.com/avastin/patient/crc/resources/reimbursement/index.html
    www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/portal/site/AS/
    www.livestrong.org/get-help/get-one-on-one-support/livestrong-cancer-navigation-center

    Best of luck!

    Ray

    Destination Access

    Bristol-Myers Squibb created The Destination Access Program as a comprehensive resource to assist cancer patients in accessing certain BMS oncology medicines. Patients who lack insurance coverage and meet other program criteria may be eligible to receive their medicine for free. For those patients who are insured, Destination Access provides a variety of reimbursement services including benefits investigation, prior authorization assistance and appeals assistance. If you need help with a Bristol-Myers Squibb oncology medicine, please have your health care provider contact The Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Destination Access program at 800-861-0048 or at http://www.destinationaccess.com/, and a program representative will help to determine what assistance options may be available for you.
  • laurettas
    laurettas Member Posts: 372
    #7
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    tanstaafl said:

    expense example
    Lauretta, if it not asking to too much, could you share a typical month's total charges for FOLFOX - Avastin, vs FOLFIRI - Erbitux with minor breakouts for various minor meds combined, hospital, and facility charges ? It would help to understand others' sources of cost under various conditions, to plan and compare. Thanks.

    Some, but not all
    I have some of the information you wanted but not all. Our insurance company pays very, very well, but slowly. Haven't yet gotten a bill concerning Erbitux.

    Here goes:
    Folfox alone $16,000/month
    Folfox w/ Avastin $46,000/month
    Folfiri alone $5200/month
    Folfiri w/ Erbitux ????

    This covers all but a few hundred dollars for misc. things such as the take home pump, blood tests, etc.

    Hope this helps
  • laurettas
    laurettas Member Posts: 372
    #8
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    daBeachBum said:

    Found this
    Hey Laurettas,

    I did some Googling and found this. I hope it's of use to you. You may also want to look into the "Navigator" program from Livestrong.org, I hear great things about it...

    www.destinationaccess.com/
    www.avastin.com/avastin/patient/crc/resources/reimbursement/index.html
    www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/portal/site/AS/
    www.livestrong.org/get-help/get-one-on-one-support/livestrong-cancer-navigation-center

    Best of luck!

    Ray

    Destination Access

    Bristol-Myers Squibb created The Destination Access Program as a comprehensive resource to assist cancer patients in accessing certain BMS oncology medicines. Patients who lack insurance coverage and meet other program criteria may be eligible to receive their medicine for free. For those patients who are insured, Destination Access provides a variety of reimbursement services including benefits investigation, prior authorization assistance and appeals assistance. If you need help with a Bristol-Myers Squibb oncology medicine, please have your health care provider contact The Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Destination Access program at 800-861-0048 or at http://www.destinationaccess.com/, and a program representative will help to determine what assistance options may be available for you.

    Lots of info!
    Thank you so much, Ray. That is a lot to look at and I will do that tonight when I have more free time. Our insurance company is wonderful and if there is a way to cut costs for them, I want to make sure that they know about it. Of course at this point we haven't gotten confirmation of the coverage for Erbitux, so I am just assuming!!

    By the way, how are you feeling? I hope better. Sounds like you have been having a rough time and I am sorry that things have been so rough.

    Jake is curious about what his side effects will be now that he is going on maintenance of 5FU and Erbitux. Hoping for minimal but will have to wait and see after Tuesday.
  • laurettas
    laurettas Member Posts: 372
    #9
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    PhillieG said:

    Your Wish is My Command
    Tutorial: How to make  Clickable Link

    Thanks, Phil,
    Blake and Winter Marie have given me the same links, I just haven't taken the time to learn how to use it! Not to mention I won't remember without looking until I have done it six times. A good memory I haven't got!

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