My HCV therapy thread. Update 12-23-15

[Adam W in MN]

Best of luck with this Sherman. Not sure if you saw this thread I posted a while back in the Tailpipe section

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=125841

but Harvoni is a daily discussion in my job and an enormous cost to the healthcare system. Sadly the specialty drug pipeline has several more therapies coming that are as much as (or more) than Harvoni.

I see your dr prescribed the 24 wk regimen. Unfortunately in the desire to be SURE the patient is cured the providers prescribe very little of the 8 wk version, which is a classic example of waste leading to cost pressures in the US healthcare version. When the patient is cured, and there are extra pills left at $1k a piece, what happens to them? The insurer has already incurred the cost...

[m-racer]

Best of luck!!

[Mark in Toronto]

Shermo! Thinking positive thoughts.

[Mike W.]

Oh man, not again. Keep at it Sherman, I know you'll prevail in time.

[Tammer in Philly]

Oh man, not again. Keep at it Sherman, I know you'll prevail in time.

The nice thing about these drugs (and the value proposition that supports the price) is that they are curative for specific strains of the disease. Cures, in terms of NPV, are more valuable than treatments.

-T.

[adrian in florida]

Best of luck with this Sherman. Not sure if you saw this thread I posted a while back in the Tailpipe section

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=125841

but Harvoni is a daily discussion in my job and an enormous cost to the healthcare system. Sadly the specialty drug pipeline has several more therapies coming that are as much as (or more) than Harvoni.

I see your dr prescribed the 24 wk regimen. Unfortunately in the desire to be SURE the patient is cured the providers prescribe very little of the 8 wk version, which is a classic example of waste leading to cost pressures in the US healthcare version. When the patient is cured, and there are extra pills left at $1k a piece, what happens to them? The insurer has already incurred the cost...

OMG, leave it to a managed care guy, most likely from United to bring up cost and waste... Poor, poor United... Have you seen thier fucking stock prices lately. The managed care industry is making record profits even with the "Cost pressure".. Honestly Adam ya'll are just passing the cost along and Obama is picking up the slack. The managed care industry is tied to one of the biggest boomdoggles in the history of america...
WE Love you Shermo!!!!!!!!

[Adam W in MN]

Oh man, not again. Keep at it Sherman, I know you'll prevail in time.

The nice thing about these drugs (and the value proposition that supports the price) is that they are curative for specific strains of the disease. Cures, in terms of NPV, are more valuable than treatments.

-T.

There is disagreement in the industry that the value prop supports the price.

[Tammer in Philly]

Oh man, not again. Keep at it Sherman, I know you'll prevail in time.

The nice thing about these drugs (and the value proposition that supports the price) is that they are curative for specific strains of the disease. Cures, in terms of NPV, are more valuable than treatments.

-T.

There is disagreement in the industry that the value prop supports the price.

Why don't I respond in the TP thread.

For here, let's be glad that there are drugs to treat Sherman's condition.

[Adam W in MN]

Why don't I respond in the TP thread.

For here, let's be glad that there are drugs to treat Sherman's condition.

Yes, agreed. I sent Adrian a private message.

[jimoreno]

Good luck with the new treatment! Hope everything works out for you.

[MicahO]

Good luck with the treatment Sherman - we're sending positive thoughts and prayers your way. While I hope the meds provide the extra kick you need, your family and friends are the best medicine - hold them close!

[1st 5er]

Been super busy with work and life, mostly work,
and missed several days of comments.

I sincerely appreciate all the support.

To add a bit more info to the other discussion, and no Adam, I had not seen your thread until now, my insurance is in fact UHC, but my understanding is that they are only the managers of AIG's, or at least the division's I work in, self insured plan.

To add some information that led to the current prescription;
previous post in this thread describe the two previous failed therapies,
my geno type is 1a and as of the last lab report the viral load is at 6,050,000 and liver fibrosis stage is F4 Cirrhosis.

Express Scripts is the Speciality Pharmacy that had to approve the filling of the prescription by Accredo. They initially back on March 2nd denied the claim as a non-covered medication and offererd AbbVie's Viekira Pak as an alternative. A clinical exception was made upon appeal, I'm sure because of my MyE28.com membership, for which I'm thankful, after discussing the differences between the two therapies with our regional AbbVie rep, who just so happens to be a friend of a friend of mine.

Thanks again for the prayers and other gestures of kindness.
See ya down the road.

[1st 5er]

Decided to do a Dr. change due to some, what I'll call, customer service issues.

The new doc wanted to do the combination Harvoni/Ribavirin therapy,
so having received the Ribavirin yesterday, starting the process today.

[m-racer]

Best of luck...hope the results are excellent!!

[1st 5er]

Thanks. Me too.

[Coldswede]

I hope it all goes well Sherman, and this is the LAST time you have to deal with this.

[1st 5er]

Great minds... Randy.

[tig]

Sending (+) energy your way!

[1st 5er]

Received.

[oldskool]

Git r done. . .

[1st 5er]

4 weeks in and ALT, AST levels are normal for the 1st time in ~15 years.

[ldsbeaker]

Woot!
Keep it going, Sherman!

More prayers headed your way.

Semper Fidelis

[86GT635]

You got the spirit. Get it dude!

[Mark 88/M5 Houston]

4 weeks in and ALT, AST levels are normal for the 1st time in ~15 years.

Great news Sherman!!!

[MicahO]

Out-freakin'-standing! Keep it up!

[m-racer]

Fine news indeed!!!!!!

[adrian in florida]

Thats great news Sherman!

[Coldswede]

Great news Sherman! I am very happy to hear this.

[Mark in Toronto]

Shermo!

[leadphut]

congrats! i'm happy for you!