Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
I have been pursuing tx with Harvoni while I am caring for my terminally ill mother in Michigan. I haven't been able to post much but have kept up with news as much as possible. The moment Harvoni was approved by the FDA on October 10th I contacted my doc. He knew my personal situation & is working with me so that I can do my tx here in MI & have any labs drawn & forwarded to him in FL. My doc sent a prescription for 12 wks of Harvoni to Axiom Specialty Pharmacy on Oct. 13. He also submitted a pre-authorization exception letter to my insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI Medicare Advantage PPO on Oct. 13. Axiom contacted my doc & advised him that the prescription could not be filled as Harvoni was not on my insurer's formulary.
I contacted Support Path at Gilead. The service they provided was exceptional. Support Path advised me that if a patient's household income is less than $100,000 and a patient's ins denies the med the Dr. must submit an appeal. If the insurer denies the appeal as well then Gilead steps in & sends Harvoni to the patient. They also have a few options for patients who have ins as well as grants & coupons for those with no ins or those who might be under insured. Support Path contacted my doc to offer advise on how to proceed to get Harvoni approved for me. My doc was experienced & had already submitted the pre authorization a second time on 10/20. I followed up with my insurer on 10/28 & I was advised that my Doc's requests had just been approved! I could hardly believe my ears. My co-pay is $40.00 per month. The cost to my insurer for 12 wks is $95,000..
Now I am waiting for Axiom to call with a delivery date & to collect my co-pay. I will wait a couple of weeks before I start Harvoni so I can order the next months refill & make sure there are no shortages, interruptions or delivery snafus.
I will be starting my 3rd tx as soon as possible. A little nervous that I could be one of those people who don't clear or relapse with Harvoni. I'm hoping for the best though & I'm starting to believe I'm going to get a decent tx!!! I want to evict this nasty dragon for me & for my husband who didn't get this opportunity. I want to beat it for my mom who is losing her battle with cancer. Things are so difficult right now & this approval is the best news I've had in a very long time. I am blessed to have good insurance & a doctor advocating for me & willing to work with me long-distance.
It is bittersweet to know I'm getting this med when others are struggling to get tx with Harvoni. I encourage anyone who is hoping to tx with this drug to contact Support Path at Gilead. They were the best. Good Luck!
I contacted Support Path at Gilead. The service they provided was exceptional. Support Path advised me that if a patient's household income is less than $100,000 and a patient's ins denies the med the Dr. must submit an appeal. If the insurer denies the appeal as well then Gilead steps in & sends Harvoni to the patient. They also have a few options for patients who have ins as well as grants & coupons for those with no ins or those who might be under insured. Support Path contacted my doc to offer advise on how to proceed to get Harvoni approved for me. My doc was experienced & had already submitted the pre authorization a second time on 10/20. I followed up with my insurer on 10/28 & I was advised that my Doc's requests had just been approved! I could hardly believe my ears. My co-pay is $40.00 per month. The cost to my insurer for 12 wks is $95,000..
Now I am waiting for Axiom to call with a delivery date & to collect my co-pay. I will wait a couple of weeks before I start Harvoni so I can order the next months refill & make sure there are no shortages, interruptions or delivery snafus.
I will be starting my 3rd tx as soon as possible. A little nervous that I could be one of those people who don't clear or relapse with Harvoni. I'm hoping for the best though & I'm starting to believe I'm going to get a decent tx!!! I want to evict this nasty dragon for me & for my husband who didn't get this opportunity. I want to beat it for my mom who is losing her battle with cancer. Things are so difficult right now & this approval is the best news I've had in a very long time. I am blessed to have good insurance & a doctor advocating for me & willing to work with me long-distance.
It is bittersweet to know I'm getting this med when others are struggling to get tx with Harvoni. I encourage anyone who is hoping to tx with this drug to contact Support Path at Gilead. They were the best. Good Luck!
TH, Tulsa Gal, Trissa & all of you still waiting for tx...please don't give up. I'm watching your journey too & rooting for y'all. Let's take our lives back! Those of you that have SVR ... Thanks for fighting so hard & paving the way. :-)
TH
Tulsa Gal
Trissa
HealingHearts
good luck with it. Starting the same treatment myself in another week or two. Should be a breeze
Cody is a weird one.....I looked and looked under the bed could not find him alllll day I heard a sqeek under the bed as he squeeks doesn't meow... NO CAT ???? I left came home ...no food eaten...CODY?? CODY squeek look under the bed NO CAT... I go to the kidtchen back to the bedroom and out under the bed he comes...?????? hmmm he is a real cat magic....no holes not rips under bed...not under covers cat magic
It won't be approved under public healthcare for several months. In the meantime I am off work due to arthritis and brain fog. Do you think Gilead would approve me now?
Has anyone else in Canada gone to Gilead?