I am a tad ticked at MY congressman at the moment!! I called his office yesterday as I presented our presentation 2 and half months ago to his staff since I couldnt go to DC days on the hill due to be very ill in hospital at the time that IDF took volunteers there this year! I did a fair job I believed of presenting the IVIg access bill and had all my ducks in a row and sent a follow up email from the foundation info. Hear nothing!!!!! Waited and knowing they are going on 'summer break' decided to call my contact back yesterday to find out why I hadnt noticed MY congressmans name on the list at IDFs page. It was not a pretty conversation and I ended up hanging up on local office and 20 minutes later a call came in from DC and it was a senior staffer. He gave me a bunch of crud and I said I STILL want to see congressman Hills name on the list. They are suppose to be getting back to me before Monday as the break starts at end of next week.
This bill is so very important to ALL of us!!!! It will secure treatment for which our doctors write. IF you have not contacted your congressman/woman please do so!!!!! Tell them to please vote for the IVIg access bill. Blessings Winnie
http://www.primaryimmune.org/action_alert.htm <---------- Go there to find your congressmans name and how to contact them!!!!!!!!! 6/25/2010 Medicare IVIG Access Studies H.R. 5597 -- MEDICARE PATIENT IVIG ACCESS A CT Requires the Secretary to report to Congress within 2 years regarding the following IVIG access and reimbursement issues: (1) Update the February 2007 ASPE report entitled “Analysis of Supply, Distribution, Demand and Access Issues Associated with Immune Globulin Intravenous (IGIV)”; and (2) Analyze the appropriateness of implementing a new Medicare payment methodology for IVIG and the feasibility of reducing the lag time with respect to data used to determine the Medicare Part B Average Sales Price and report to Congress recommendations for legislative and administrative action. Medicare Demonstration Project The current Medicare Part B IVIG home benefit for beneficiaries with Primary Immune Deficiency Disease (PIDD) fails to cover the items and services necessary to administer IVIG in the home. H.R. 5597 establishes a three-year Medicare demonstration project to address this inequity by providing reimbursement for the items and services necessary to administer IVIG in the home. The demonstration project would begin on January 1, 2011 and enrollment would be capped at no more than 4,000 beneficiaries. An interim report of the demonstration project would be due within 2 years of enactment and a final report would be due in 2014. Cost/Offset An independent estimate of the cost of the demonstration project is $9.58 million (Dobson/DaVanzo). The bill offsets increased spending by allowing Medicare patients undergoing chemotherapy for colorectal cancer the option to use disposable elastomeric infusion pumps when prescribed by a physician in place of a durable pump. Currently, Medicare only reimburses for a durable pump, while private insurance generally covers both. The disposable pump is cheaper and improves patient quality of life. The offset is estimated to save $216.8 million over ten years. Background Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy is vital in treating patients with frequent life-threatening infections and debilitating illnesses, including those with primary immunodeficiency diseases, autoimmune and neurological conditions such as: chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Guillain cancer and other chronic illnesses. Without regular access to IVIG therapy, these patients experience a poor quality of life, disability and potentially death. In January 2005, the basis for Medicare Part B drug reimbursement was changed to average sales price (ASP) and soon after reports of access problems were reported to patient grups. The OIG and ASPE studied IVIG issues and reported to Congress in 2007. The OIG reported that even after the 6 month time lag allowed Medicare payment to adjust to changes in product cost, 44% of hospital outpatient departments and 41% of physicians were unable to purchase IVIG at the Medicare reimbursed rate. In addition, the ASPE report concluded that home infusion providers generally do not accept new PIDD patients with only Medicare coverage noting that limitations in service are caused because health care providers: (1) are not able to acquire IVIG at prices at or below the Medicare Part B reimbursement level, and (2) are not reimbursed for the infusion services (beneficiaries with PIDD because of the risk of infection in other health care settings. Many private insurers