Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group No Remicade

Cat,
Thanks for your thoughts, I hoping that things will get better the weather here is so up and down at the moment, once it settles I'm hoping my body will too. Unfortunatley I've only had about one good month in the last 12. But hey I'll get there!!!
Take care and keep smiling,
Rose

Adriaan,
Hey, how's things? I know what u mean about not wanting to ask for the result but sometimes it's good to know that it's not all in your head!!! I hope your quest is sucessful, I will keep you updated with any tricks I hear!!
Hope all is well, maybe next time u r in Melb we can catch up for coffee and compare notes!!
Take care and keep smiling,
Rose

Davo,
I hear ya!!
Cheers,
Rose

Sue,
How are things all the way over there?? You know in any other country you would be in another country that would probably have different criteria - ah the frustration!!!!
Thing is they think it's money that's the problem well if I could manage on remicade alone and stop all the other drugs I reckon I'd save them money!! The other thing they want me to do is stop prednisalone - well last time I did that I went to hospital for a week - reckon that'll cost them a bit too!!

Enough bitter thoughts though. Just remember to keep smiling, things can only get better.
Take care,
Rose

JC,
The problem is no other drugs are working and what stage do they want me to be at before they will offer help???
I understand the drug is expensive but in the long run it may save the government money by acting now rather than when I can no longer work.
However trying to stay positive,
Take care,
Rose

aloha, Rose

could i ask a question...why are you and davo SO hung up on remicade ?
remicade is the most expensive of these newbies and the delivery system the most intrusive ?

enbrel seems to be the preferred entry level drug of choice- it's only a skin pop and seems to cost about
half as much as remicade. it seems, perhaps, that in the us rheumies try enbrel and then go to remicade if they're
is a problem...perhaps oversimplification.

australian drug committee seems very restrictive...are they over budget ? or using thirty year old, third-world
medical standards for decision making ? who put them in charge? can't you change the government ?

have the remicade folks been doing a better job selling their goop than the enbrel folks?
also, haven't the new fda(us) advisories about remicade made it to the other side of the day?

the enbrel folks have compassionate use support in the us; how about remicade ? don't they offer some down under?

also are not meds available for cash purchase...does the govt. pay for everything and with the checkbook control
drug distribution...do you not have competing health insurance ?
start a revolution.
best
aloha ben

Aloha Ben,

I might be able to answer some of your questions (I hope you don't mind Rose).

We have a system for the use of drugs here called the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) that is run by the government paid for out of our taxes so you could say its a big insurance company for drugs.

How it works is we pay $23.80 or $3.80 (for Pensioners) for the lowest price brand drugs & when we reach 52 scripts for the year we get a PBS Safety Net card then we pay $3.80 or $0.00 (for Pensioners) for the lowest price brand drugs.

To give you an example 1 of the drugs I am on is Azathioprine (Imuran) 50mg 100 in box I pay $1.50 the PBS pays $75.20.

Now the PBS will not pay the full price your insurance company pays for there drugs. When a new better drug comes on the market thay only pay for the difference of the better part of the new drug from the older one. This is to try and stop the drug companies recycleing old drugs as new ones and chargeing lots for them.

To put drugs on the PBS we have a committee called the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) that is made up of a mix of Doctors and bean counters.

Why the PBAC put Infliximab (Remicade) on the PBS instead of Enbrel or Humria I don't realy know but the Australian Rheumy Assoc said thay preferd Remicade as it is given in a controled environment (thay don't trust us).

The reason the PBAC put all these restrictions on remicade is all a question of money so only a very small number of people will meet the restrictions so thay can keep the PBS budget down.

Adriaan

Ben,
The system here in Australia is a little different to most places. The government subsids most medication, that means they can regulate who gets what and it means that most medications cost about $A25 per dispensary. All the TNF drugs are authority drugs, that means the prescibing doctor has to apply to the government for the drug. Remicade is the only one approved for AS so far, it also requires a 30 page application document. If Enbrel was avaliable I would be just as happy to try that - I'm at a point where I'll try everything as my current cocktail isn't doing a great deal to stop the progresssion of my disease. I can buy the drug without subsidy but that would cost me about $A30,000 per year, as I don't earn a great deal more than this I can't afford it. We do have private insurance but doesn't really cover medications (especially if you are getting it without the subsidy), so you see things are a bit difficult.
Any way hope this helps you to understand our prediciment.
Take care and keep smiling,
Rose

Sorry Adrian - I didn't read u r post before I replied!!!! You explained a lot better than I did!!!
Thanks,
Rose

Hi,

schering plough have a patient assistance program! Tell your Rheummy!

David