Guest guest Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Completely and totally STINKS! But, don't give up that easy ladies. Call your local representatives and complain!!! If we make enough noise, we'll be heard! Why is it never about our health and always about the bottom line... the almighty dollar?!!! It's a shame...but I'm not giving up! ~Chelle Ironically, today i'm submitting close to $300 of out-of-pocket compounded Rx expenses to my new Part D Medicare plan, which, most amazingly, covers compounded meds completely (minus my $1 co-pay). After this development, who knows how long that will last. It is totally infuriating. For me, compounded meds are a medical NECESSITY, NOT some frivolous act on my part. Hollis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Now Squibb will have to repackage their Estrace to remove " vaginal " from the label and stop instructing users to use the applicator to insert the stuff into the vagina. For our purposes it is recommended to use a pea size amount and to spread it on the vulva (not the vagina). Ora >Most unfortunate news: http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=442598 > >Dusty > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Completely and totally STINKS! But, don't give up that easy ladies. Call your local representatives and complain!!! If we make enough noise, we'll be heard! Why is it never about our health and always about the bottom line... the almighty dollar?!!! It's a shame...but I'm not giving up! ~Chelle Anonymous wrote: Most unfortunate news: http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=442598 Dusty Health plans restricting compounded drug payment Insurers cut back on coverage of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Publish date: Jul 23, 2007By: Reid Article Tools E-mail this article Print this article Related Content FDA puts compounding pharmacies on hot seat How safe are compounded drugs? Compounding group names new executive director USP set to revise sterile compounding guidelines Latebreakers: Murder-suicide linked to steroids from compounding pharmacy More Related Articles The reimbursement opportunities for compounded medications are shrinking. In February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that it considers compounded inhaled medications not medically necessary. In addition, Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) have each taken recent steps to limit the number of compounded medications that they cover. Last year, CMS announced it would change its billing codes to lower pharmacy payments for compounded medications. Now, under a new policy that went into effect July 1, CMS considers all compounded inhalation solutions "as not medically necessary." The new rule follows a letter sent last year by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R, Iowa) to Mark McClellan, then CMS administrator, questioning the safety of compounded inhalation medications. According to BCBS, "drug compounding, the process of mixing, combining or alternating ingredients to create a customized medication, is considered experimental, investigational, and unproven." In its rationale for its new policy, BCBS pointed to a 2001 Food & Drug Administration study, which found that 34% of the 29 compounded medications collected for the study failed one or more standard quality tests. BCBS does make an exemption for progesterone therapy as a technique to reduce preterm delivery in high-risk pregnancies. In addition, beginning in October, Aetna will no longer cover bioidentical hormones and thyroid compounded drugs. Aetna will still cover other compounded medications. According to the company's new policy, it considers a compounded medication appropriate only if it meets the following criteria: it contains at least one prescription ingredient that is FDA-approved, the compounded product is not a copy of commercially available FDA-approved drug product, and the safety and effectiveness of use for the prescribed indication is supported by FDA approval or adequate medical and scientific evidence in the medical literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 I am totally confused, when my doctor gave me the estrace I asked him if it was compounded and he said no. So confused, please explain. Millie Re: Compounded meds Now Squibb will have to repackage their Estrace to remove "vaginal" from thelabel and stop instructing users to use the applicator to insert the stuff intothe vagina. For our purposes it is recommended to use a pea size amount and to spread it onthe vulva (not the vagina). OraOn Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:29:28 -0700 (PDT), Anonymous <mslatrobe (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:>Most unfortunate news: http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=442598>>Dusty> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 I know, I just want to vent, just another thing to upset us, those losy bastards, you know, it is our bodies let us decide, it is all about the bottom line in this country, it is about the dollar and who can make the most. Sorry, it just makes me feel better to vent. Millie Re: Compounded meds Completely and totally STINKS! But, don't give up that easy ladies. Call your local representatives and complain!!! If we make enough noise, we'll be heard! Why is it never about our health and always about the bottom line... the almighty dollar?!!! It's a shame...but I'm not giving up! ~Chelle Anonymous <mslatrobe (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote: Most unfortunate news: http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=442598 Dusty Health plans restricting compounded drug payment Insurers cut back on coverage of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Publish date: Jul 23, 2007By: Reid Article Tools E-mail this article Print this article Related Content FDA puts compounding pharmacies on hot seat How safe are compounded drugs? Compounding group names new executive director USP set to revise sterile compounding guidelines Latebreakers: Murder-suicide linked to steroids from compounding pharmacy More Related Articles The reimbursement opportunities for compounded medications are shrinking. In February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that it considers compounded inhaled medications not medically necessary. In addition, Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) have each taken recent steps to limit the number of compounded medications that they cover. Last year, CMS announced it would change its billing codes to lower pharmacy payments for compounded medications. Now, under a new policy that went into effect July 1, CMS considers all compounded inhalation solutions "as not medically necessary." The new rule follows a letter sent last year by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R, Iowa) to Mark McClellan, then CMS administrator, questioning the safety of compounded inhalation medications. According to BCBS, "drug compounding, the process of mixing, combining or alternating ingredients to create a customized medication, is considered experimental, investigational, and unproven." In its rationale for its new policy, BCBS pointed to a 2001 Food & Drug Administration study, which found that 34% of the 29 compounded medications collected for the study failed one or more standard quality tests. BCBS does make an exemption for progesterone therapy as a technique to reduce preterm delivery in high-risk pregnancies. In addition, beginning in October, Aetna will no longer cover bioidentical hormones and thyroid compounded drugs. Aetna will still cover other compounded medications. According to the company's new policy, it considers a compounded medication appropriate only if it meets the following criteria: it contains at least one prescription ingredient that is FDA-approved, the compounded product is not a copy of commercially available FDA-approved drug product, and the safety and effectiveness of use for the prescribed indication is supported by FDA approval or adequate medical and scientific evidence in the medical literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Zdamask@... wrote:Ironically, today i'm submitting close to $300 of out-of-pocket compounded Rx expenses to my new Part D Medicare plan, which, most amazingly, covers compounded meds completely (minus my $1 co-pay). After this development, who knows how long that will last. It is totally infuriating. For me, compounded meds are a medical NECESSITY, NOT some frivolous act on my part. Hollis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Zdamask@... wrote: >>>>>>It is totally infuriating. For me, compounded meds are a medical NECESSITY, NOT some frivolous act on my part. Sorry for the previous blank post.... here goes again.... AMEN, Hollis! I sure hear you! I don't think compounded meds are frivolous either...and I'm sure the Insurance companies don't truly feel that way...it's just they are always looking for ways to get out of paying for services!!! Add to that the fact that the Big Drug Companies are not happy about the competition coming from the bio-identical hormone market...and there we have it... GREED in it's truest form! Makes me sooo mad! *ARRRRG* I mean, hey, who cares if the compounded meds actually WORK for people and give them individualized care? I know I sure CARE! It's at least encouraging that Dr. Vliet is speaking out against this nonsense! ~Chelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.