[breitenr]

Regarding Zoe's concern that an oral Rx may not be covered by the plan...

Most companies have patient assistance plans to cover patients whose payers don't cover certain drugs. In many instances it is easier to get free drug than it is to get help making a copay. IE - if it is not covered you get if for free but if it is covered but you can't aford it more documentation (income etc) may be required. Also, when receiving drugs in the office as an infusion or injection you may be able to get the drug for free from the manufacturer but there is still the administration costs as well as the cost of the supplies (esp if it is an infusion - chair time, rn time, tubing, bags, saline etc.) Sometimes offices cannot aford to eat these costs and a patient may miss out on a particular rx. With an oral, there may be less resistance to helping get you onto therapy because free rx does not cost the office anything. This is not meant to be negative towards physicians but some small private practices cannot provide free support services even when they want to.

Bottom line - the drug companies want you to use their drug. If you do and it works (even if the drug was free) it may help your doctor become more comfortable with the product and eventually s/he will prescribe it to a patient whose plan will pay for it. This is even more true when a rx is new to the market! Ultimately it is up to you to ask for the help. The nurses are great but always overworked, the doctors know the clinical stuff but have no idea how to get the drug and the office manager is often tied up with the "big picture" issues. All mean well, but you have to take charge. Good luck!