Anemia drug sales have taken a beating since Medicare tightened rules to limit when it would pay for them. Now, Aetna has set limits on anemia drug reimbursements too, issuing new rules that follow Medicare's lead. Observers expect other private insurers to establish similar policies in short order.
Earlier this year, Medicare decided [1] that while it would pay for use of drugs like Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen when used to treat certain cancers, it wouldn't pay to use the drugs to prevent anemia. This move upset so many parties that two House of Representatives members introduced a resolution [2] which would force Medicare to rescind its new policy. (The resolution is still under discussion.)
To learn more about Aetna's decision:
- read this Los Angeles Times piece [3]
Related Articles:
Dialysis firms defend anemia drug use along ethnic lines. Report [4]
FDA group recommends anemia drug limits. Report [5]
Anemia drug rebates challenged. Report [6]
Regulators question anemia drugs. Report [7]
New study points to danger of anemia drug. Report [8]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/cms-considers-anemia-drug-payment-limits/2007-05-15?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/house-bill-would-reverse-medicare-anemia-drug-limits/2007-10-03?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss
[3] http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-amgen19oct19,1,7746969.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
[4] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/dialysis-firms-defend-anemia-drug-use-along-ethnic-lines/2007-09-12
[5] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/fda-group-recommends-anemia-drug-limits/2007-05-14
[6] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/anemia-drug-rebates-challenged/2007-05-09
[7] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/spotlight-regulators-question-anemia-drugs/2007-04-30
[8] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/new-study-points-to-danger-of-anemia-drug/2006-11-16