Re: Re: home injections vs infusion vs doctor's office

[Guest guest]

Doug - I get my three shots at the hospital in its outpatient services unit. As

I've indicated before, my pulmonologist says I have to do it this way in order

to get them at no cost via Medicare (not plan D) and BCBS. At any rate, I go

in, sit down, get my shots and leave - no need to wait after the shots. The

only reaction I ever had was the next day after the shot. Speaking of paying

for the shots, is anyone else Medicare/Medicare supplemental ins. able to get

their Xolair free and inject at home? Wife is RN, so I wouldn't have to do it

myself. Obviously, it would be less expensive for Medicare/BCBS for me to get

shots at home, but that would make too much sense for medical bureaucracy,

physicians bureaucracy, hospital bureaucracy and insurance company bureaucracy

to deal with.

Anywho, my pulmonologist and I had lengthy discussion yesterday about my lungs

and Xolair. One thing he said really struck home - they've only just scratched

the surface of what they know about the effects of Xolair in the body. For

example, I started Xolair with IgE level of 900. During the nearly two years

I've been on it, my IgE has fluctuated from 300 to 1900. He's discussed with

Novartis, and they don't know why. Personally, I feel it has a lot to do with

when the blood samples are taken, and we're looking into this. I explained to

the doc that in the last few days before my shots (375mg), I feel really lousy

and have mucho symptoms. I get the shots, and feel much better within a day or

two. Much mystery. I showed him the recent CT scan of my sinuses. He says

they're the worst he's ever seen - all of my sinuses are completely filled with

crud again - no air anywhere - total opacification. Hotshot ENT specialist at

Duke says they're a disaster. He's going in with his roto-rooter and shop vac

soon to do his sinus D & C, which he did four years ago - then they keep me in

hosp. a day to see if I live. After that, we're going to experiment with spray

antibiotics and oral antibiotics and steroids. Much fun and games, all due to

childhood allergies and asthma about 65 years ago when they didn't have the

foggiest notion how to treat them.

Ohldepharte

----- Original Message -----

From: uca79iii

Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 3:55 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: home injections vs infusion vs doctor's office

Got my two bi weekly injections at the doctor's office today.

After about 15 minutes I THOUGHT I might be having the start of a

reaction. The nurse looked me over and had the doc standing by but it

turned out to be nothing.

I know it is a hassle to go to the doctors office and I would really

rather give myself the injections at home but being there made me feel

a little safer.

Just my thoughts

Doug

Group founder

[Guest guest]

curious--how do you get xolair for free? i have medicare and a supplemental

policy but i pay 5 per cent each month plus i pay for one month when i go into

the gap and donut hole. its ok though because i would have to pay for other

meds.

Terry <onabeach@...> wrote: Doug - I

get my three shots at the hospital in its outpatient services unit. As I've

indicated before, my pulmonologist says I have to do it this way in order to get

them at no cost via Medicare (not plan D) and BCBS. At any rate, I go in, sit

down, get my shots and leave - no need to wait after the shots. The only

reaction I ever had was the next day after the shot. Speaking of paying for the

shots, is anyone else Medicare/Medicare supplemental ins. able to get their

Xolair free and inject at home? Wife is RN, so I wouldn't have to do it myself.

Obviously, it would be less expensive for Medicare/BCBS for me to get shots at

home, but that would make too much sense for medical bureaucracy, physicians

bureaucracy, hospital bureaucracy and insurance company bureaucracy to deal

with.

Anywho, my pulmonologist and I had lengthy discussion yesterday about my lungs

and Xolair. One thing he said really struck home - they've only just scratched

the surface of what they know about the effects of Xolair in the body. For

example, I started Xolair with IgE level of 900. During the nearly two years

I've been on it, my IgE has fluctuated from 300 to 1900. He's discussed with

Novartis, and they don't know why. Personally, I feel it has a lot to do with

when the blood samples are taken, and we're looking into this. I explained to

the doc that in the last few days before my shots (375mg), I feel really lousy

and have mucho symptoms. I get the shots, and feel much better within a day or

two. Much mystery. I showed him the recent CT scan of my sinuses. He says

they're the worst he's ever seen - all of my sinuses are completely filled with

crud again - no air anywhere - total opacification. Hotshot ENT specialist at

Duke says they're a disaster. He's going

in with his roto-rooter and shop vac soon to do his sinus D & C, which he did

four years ago - then they keep me in hosp. a day to see if I live. After that,

we're going to experiment with spray antibiotics and oral antibiotics and

steroids. Much fun and games, all due to childhood allergies and asthma about

65 years ago when they didn't have the foggiest notion how to treat them.

Ohldepharte

----- Original Message -----

From: uca79iii

Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 3:55 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: home injections vs infusion vs doctor's office

Got my two bi weekly injections at the doctor's office today.

After about 15 minutes I THOUGHT I might be having the start of a

reaction. The nurse looked me over and had the doc standing by but it

turned out to be nothing.

I know it is a hassle to go to the doctors office and I would really

rather give myself the injections at home but being there made me feel

a little safer.

Just my thoughts

Doug

Group founder

[Guest guest]

Leigh - as my pulmo explained it when he first put me on Xolair, I have to go to

the hospital for the shots which are covered under some aspect of Medicare - NOT

plan D - as hospital outpatient care. The hospital charges about $5,100 per

session of three shots. Medicare pays about $1200 and BCBS supplementary pays

about $320. There's no specific explanation beyond " Omalizumab Injection

(j2357). However, it's definitely not plan D. On that, I go into the donut

hole lickety split because of all my other drugs. When I am about to go into

the donut hole, we switch to buying through Canada at about one third of

domestic cost for the rest of the year. Given the Plan D premiums and copays,

it would be cheaper to buy all Canadian, but you never know when the government

might crack down on the Canadian deal. Of course, with Butthead Bush on his way

out and hopefully Obama getting in, that may become less likely. Case in point,

Aciphex. My wife and I both take it for GERD. The Plan D copay is higher than

the cost from Canada. Go figure.

Regarding your 5% copay, I'm guessing that's the Plan D catastrophic copay. I

sure hope that isn't 5% of the $5100 per injection session. That could mount

up.

Ohldepharte

----- Original Message -----

From: Leigh McCall-Alton

Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 10:59 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: home injections vs infusion vs doctor's office

curious--how do you get xolair for free? i have medicare and a supplemental

policy but i pay 5 per cent each month plus i pay for one month when i go into

the gap and donut hole. its ok though because i would have to pay for other

meds.

Terry <onabeach@...> wrote: Doug - I get my three shots at the

hospital in its outpatient services unit. As I've indicated before, my

pulmonologist says I have to do it this way in order to get them at no cost via

Medicare (not plan D) and BCBS. At any rate, I go in, sit down, get my shots and

leave - no need to wait after the shots. The only reaction I ever had was the

next day after the shot. Speaking of paying for the shots, is anyone else

Medicare/Medicare supplemental ins. able to get their Xolair free and inject at

home? Wife is RN, so I wouldn't have to do it myself. Obviously, it would be

less expensive for Medicare/BCBS for me to get shots at home, but that would

make too much sense for medical bureaucracy, physicians bureaucracy, hospital

bureaucracy and insurance company bureaucracy to deal with.

Anywho, my pulmonologist and I had lengthy discussion yesterday about my lungs

and Xolair. One thing he said really struck home - they've only just scratched

the surface of what they know about the effects of Xolair in the body. For

example, I started Xolair with IgE level of 900. During the nearly two years

I've been on it, my IgE has fluctuated from 300 to 1900. He's discussed with

Novartis, and they don't know why. Personally, I feel it has a lot to do with

when the blood samples are taken, and we're looking into this. I explained to

the doc that in the last few days before my shots (375mg), I feel really lousy

and have mucho symptoms. I get the shots, and feel much better within a day or

two. Much mystery. I showed him the recent CT scan of my sinuses. He says

they're the worst he's ever seen - all of my sinuses are completely filled with

crud again - no air anywhere - total opacification. Hotshot ENT specialist at

Duke says they're a disaster. He's going

in with his roto-rooter and shop vac soon to do his sinus D & C, which he did

four years ago - then they keep me in hosp. a day to see if I live. After that,

we're going to experiment with spray antibiotics and oral antibiotics and

steroids. Much fun and games, all due to childhood allergies and asthma about 65

years ago when they didn't have the foggiest notion how to treat them.

Ohldepharte

----- Original Message -----

From: uca79iii

Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 3:55 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: home injections vs infusion vs doctor's office

Got my two bi weekly injections at the doctor's office today.

After about 15 minutes I THOUGHT I might be having the start of a

reaction. The nurse looked me over and had the doc standing by but it

turned out to be nothing.

I know it is a hassle to go to the doctors office and I would really

rather give myself the injections at home but being there made me feel

a little safer.

Just my thoughts

Doug

Group founder

[Guest guest]

I have medicare and an employer supplemental plan as my husband worked for the

Post Office and I pay nothing for my shots.  I would pay something for the

office visit normally but I happen to be going to a research clinic, and while I

am not involved in any of the research, the clinic is not charging me the extra

for the office visit.  All of the other charges for the shots are covered, i.e.

the pft, and the cost of actually giving the shot, plus the cost of the

medicine.  Oh, I use my supplemental insurance for all of my prescriptions. 

That way we don't have to worry about the donut hole.  The prescription coverage

is comparable and even a little better than any of the medicare prescription

drug plans.

Doug - I get my three shots at the

hospital in its outpatient services unit. As I've indicated before, my

pulmonologist says I have to do it this way in order to get them at no cost via

Medicare (not plan D) and BCBS. At any rate, I go in, sit down, get my shots and

leave - no need to wait after the shots. The only reaction I ever had was the

next day after the shot. Speaking of paying for the shots, is anyone else

Medicare/Medicare supplemental ins. able to get their Xolair free and inject at

home? Wife is RN, so I wouldn't have to do it myself. Obviously, it would be

less expensive for Medicare/BCBS for me to get shots at home, but that would

make too much sense for medical bureaucracy, physicians bureaucracy, hospital

bureaucracy and insurance company bureaucracy to deal with.

Anywho, my pulmonologist and I had lengthy discussion yesterday about my lungs

and Xolair. One thing he said really struck home - they've only just scratched

the surface of what they know about the effects of Xolair in the body. For

example, I started Xolair with IgE level of 900. During the nearly two years

I've been on it, my IgE has fluctuated from 300 to 1900. He's discussed with

Novartis, and they don't know why. Personally, I feel it has a lot to do with

when the blood samples are taken, and we're looking into this. I explained to

the doc that in the last few days before my shots (375mg), I feel really lousy

and have mucho symptoms. I get the shots, and feel much better within a day or

two. Much mystery. I showed him the recent CT scan of my sinuses. He says

they're the worst he's ever seen - all of my sinuses are completely filled with

crud again - no air anywhere - total opacification. Hotshot ENT specialist at

Duke says they're a disaster. He's

going

in with his roto-rooter and shop vac soon to do his sinus D & C, which he did four

years ago - then they keep me in hosp. a day to see if I live. After that, we're

going to experiment with spray antibiotics and oral antibiotics and steroids.

Much fun and games, all due to childhood allergies and asthma about 65 years ago

when they didn't have the foggiest notion how to treat them.

Ohldepharte

----- Original Message -----

From: uca79iii

Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 3:55 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: home injections vs infusion vs doctor's office

Got my two bi weekly injections at the doctor's office today.

After about 15 minutes I THOUGHT I might be having the start of a

reaction. The nurse looked me over and had the doc standing by but it

turned out to be nothing.

I know it is a hassle to go to the doctors office and I would really

rather give myself the injections at home but being there made me feel

a little safer.

Just my thoughts

Doug

Group founder