Help extend coverage for immunosuppressive drugs

[okarol]

Help extend coverage for immunosuppressive drugs!
Take Action! Visit this page:
 http://capwiz.com/kidney/utr/1/LZLAHMPHFY/DNDGHMPKOY/1342299191
 
People with organ transplants must take immunosuppressive drugs for
the life of the transplant in order to reduce the likelihood of the organ being rejected by the body.
 
Currently, Medicare pays for most organ transplants and Medicare part B covers 80% of the cost of
immunosuppressive medications for as long as the recipient has Medicare.
 
For kidney transplant recipients, Medicare lasts for only 36 months after the transplant if the person
does not qualify for Medicare because of age or disability status.  At the end of this time, the kidney
recipient must pay for immunosuppressive drugs through private insurance, public or pharmaceutical
programs or pay out of their own pocket.
 
Too often, kidney transplant recipients must choose between taking the medication they need or other
living expenses, and they cut doses or stop taking the medication, causing the transplant to fail. Some
dialysis patients don't even consider a transplant because they know they will not be able to pay for the drugs.
 
Although immunosuppressive drugs are very expensive, costing $10,000
-20,000 per year, if the kidney transplant fails, the person returns to
dialysis at a cost of over $65,000 per year to Medicare. In addition,
there are over 75,000 people on the waiting list for kidney transplant,
and it's poor stewardship to lose a kidney because the patient can't
afford the necessary drugs to keep it working.
 
Congressmen Dave Camp (R-MI) and Ron Kind (D-WI) have introduced H.R.
3282 that would extend Medicare for immunosuppressive drugs for the
life of a kidney transplant. Patients would continue to receive these
drugs under Part B of Medicare with the usual premium, but would not
have access to other Medicare services or coverage. This is a big step
forward to preserve the life of kidney transplants.
 
Click here for more information http://capwiz.com/kidney/utr/1/LZLAHMPHFY/DNDGHMPKOY/1342299191]
 
Please write your Representative today and ask them to co-sponsor HR
3282. Share your story, or the story of a loved one, about the
experience with immunosuppressive drug coverage.

From the National Kidney Foundation - www.kidney.org

[stauffenberg]

I saw one statistical study comparing the outcomes for kidney transplants in various countries of the industrialized world.  Data for the United States were omitted because the American results were thrown off by the fact that many patients there lost their grafts because they could not afford immunosuppressive drugs, which resulted in a sudden falling off of graft survival after the three-year Medicare coverage was up.

[okarol]

Here's a copy of a letter that you can send to your representative, or go to the website above and send it from there:

To:  ______________

I am calling on you to co-sponsor HR3282.  This legislation will extend immunosuppressive drug coverage for kidney transplant recipients beyond 36 months if the patient does not qualify for Medicare because of age or disability.

People with organ transplants must take immunosuppressive drugs for the life of the transplant in order for the organ to not be rejected by the body.  Currently, Medicare pays for most kidney transplants and covers these drugs for 36 after the transplant if the person does not qualify for Medicare because of age or disability status (aged and disabled recipients have lifetime coverage).  At the end of this time, the transplant recipient must pay for immunosuppressive drugs through private insurance, public or pharmaceutical programs or pay out-of-pocket.

Too often, transplant patients must choose between taking the medication they need or other living expenses, and they cut doses or stop taking the medication, causing the transplant to fail.  Some dialysis patients don’t even consider a transplant because they know they will not be able to pay for the drugs at the end of the 36 months.

Although immunosuppressive drugs are very expensive, costing $10,000-20,000 per year, if the kidney transplant fails, the person returns to Medicare-covered dialysis at a cost of over $65,000 per year.  Under this legislation, a kidney transplant recipient would have access to these drugs under Medicare Part B by paying the premium.  Medicare would be the secondary payer if the patient has private insurance.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of extending immunosuppressive drug coverage to be $200 million over the next five years. 

Please cosponsor HR 3282 today.  It is good stewardship, and good health policy.

Signed,

[okarol]

I will add in the letter I send:

Our 21 year old daughter Jenna received a kidney transplant 6 months ago. Due to her illness and dialysis the last 6 years, it has been difficult for her to get the education or job training required to get a full time job that provides heath insurance. She is doing well and we hope she will be able to be fully-employed, but the clock is ticking on the limit 36 months of immunosuppressant coverage through Medicare.

[Stu]

They say that a good way to judge a civilisation it how well it treats its less fortunate and disadvantaged citizens.

I am appalled that a country with the economic might of the US can treat its vulnerable citizens so poorly. If a country like Cuba can have a working nationalised health care scheme, why can't the US?

Here in Australia, I believe that we are probably one of the luckiest countries in the world. I (as a disability support pensioner) pay under AU$5 per script, and when I reach about (I think) $200 in a year, they're all free after that. Even without the pensioner concession, It's still only $25 per script, and is still capped at somewhere around (again, I think) $1,000 a year.

Having said that, this fight you are undertaking is a vital battle in US citizens' right to affordable health care. Although I know as an Australian citizen I really don't have a voice on this issue, I'd love to help you guys out in any way I can.

If anybody has a way us non-US citizens can help, let me know.

[Zach]

Data for the United States were omitted because the American results were thrown off by the fact that many patients there lost their grafts because they could not afford immunosuppressive drugs, which resulted in a sudden falling off of graft survival after the three-year Medicare coverage was up.

How many is "many?"  Where are you pulling that statement from?