Sensipar and Renvela Assistance Program

[smartcookie]

At my clinic, Sensipar seems to be the drug everyone has trouble affording.  Most of my patients survive off of Social Security Disability and Medicare.  One program I have found very helpful is Patient Assistance Network Foundation.  Here is the website and a list of the medicines they cover: http://www.panfoundation.org/medications-covered  Usually, my patients receive a $4000.00 grand which makes their medicine free for a year!  I get lots of hugs over this website!     Renvela is also covered on here and signing up is so much easier than Renassist and more convenient since Renassist is only open for a few months out of the year.  You can apply by phone.  You need to have your Medicare Part D card, your annual income and will need to tell them if you file federal income tax.  I hope this helps someone! 

[Charlie B53]

Great program that should be very helpful for many that otherwise skip their meds.

I forwarded the link to our Son.  (fingers crossed).

Thanks!

[smartcookie]

Anytime!

[kitkatz]

Thank you for sharing this information with our site.  I am sure it will help someone.  Medications can be very expensive!

[kickingandscreaming]

I approached the foundation and was told that End Stage Renal Failure was not a condition that they help with.  I'm disappointed as I had high hopes as their eligibility requirements are more aligned with my situation.

[Zach]

I approached the foundation and was told that End Stage Renal Failure was not a condition that they help with.  I'm disappointed as I had high hopes as their eligibility requirements are more aligned with my situation.

From the PAN website:
 Patients must meet the following criteria to be eligible for PAN assistance:
   *Patients must have health insurance and their insurance must cover the qualifying medication for which they seek assistance.
   *The medication must directly treat the disease.
   *Patients' income must fall at or below 400% or 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, depending on program-specific guidelines.
   *Patient must reside and receive treatment in the United States. (U.S. citizenship is not a requirement.) 

And the disease fund is: Secondary Hyperparathyroidism - Medicare Only (not ESRD).
Covered mediations:  Sensipar, Fosrenol, Phoslo, Renvela, Rocaltrol, and more.
                               
Please check again.
You could qualify for the grant, though you may need to wait till Jan 2016.
https://www.panapply.org

[kickingandscreaming]

Great, Zach. I actually wrote to them asking if ESRD was covered and they said "no."  I never would have thought about secondary hyperparathyroidism.  I never even heard my Nephro use that term--although I certainly have it.  2016  isn't very far away.

[Simon Dog]

If you have private insurance, or a private secondary policy that covers meds, Sensipar will give you a free copay card that reduces your copay to $5.00 per month.   There is no income limit for participation.    http://www.sensipar.com/patient-assistance-programs/private-insurance.html

Medicare regulations prohibit using this with part D medicare drugs plans.

The game is to price the drug to get the max out of insurance companies, and a byproduct of that is the high copay, which is resolved with the copay card.

[kickingandscreaming]

Unfortunately, I have a Medicare HMO ( a medicare advantage plan) so I don't think I'm eligible for Sensipar.  Wish I was, as my plan is quite expensive and calls both Renvela and Sensipar a Tier 3 drug.  Are they equivalent drugs?

[Simon Dog]

What do you mean by equivalent?   Renvela is a phos binder; Sensipar is to bind to the parathyroid calcium receptors and reduce the output of parathyroid hormone.

[kickingandscreaming]

That's what I meant, but clearly they are not equivalent drugs.

[Charlie B53]

This thread reminds me what I was missing when I filled my weekly pill boxes.   I will need to check the VA Hosp Pahrmacy to see if my Sensipar refill is hung up as I haven't received it for over a week now.  If a problelm I will have to email my PD Nurse to get Dr to re-write my script.