My Mother spent most of the morning at the same orthopedic practice where she’s been a couple of times, this time partly with a spine doctor who also specializes in medication. Apparently the scans Mom has done showed something that was readily apparent to everyone before: definite osteoporosis in a bone that connects the hip with the spine and some vertebrae collapse around there.
What will be up next is an attempt to persuade Mom’s insurance company, Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield, to pay for use of an until recently experimental drug that not only – like some of the “miracle drug” she’s been taking – reduces some of the pain and symptoms associated with this bone decay, etc. – but also builds the bone back up (teriparatide - a synthetic hormone that the manufacturer calls Forteo). Ironically, the maker of this new medication – which has been marketing thie medication for about eight years – is Lily, whose foundation paid my salary and benefits for 4 ½ years. Ironically, I also got the news from my Mom minutes after making more calls over in Southern Indiana in support of President Obama’s health care reform.
The news is serious no matter what happens: First, Mom has some serious osteoporosis that puts her more at risk for something like breaking her hip (and recall that our friend Mary Hardison was never able to complete a hip replacement and is bed-bound at Westminster Oaks). Second, even if the insurance company approves coverage of the new medication, it involves use of a complex delivery system akin to diabetes, where Mom would have to inject herself with the medication every day. Third, if the insurance company nixes it, Mom might have to forego this potentially life-saving medication or get a lawyer to advocate for her with the insurance company or dip more heavily into her savings and change some other financial patterns.
We’ll see what happens. Mom doesn’t like needles but she seemed to accommodate herself to this possibility. Mom also didn’t seem very inclined to push it if the insurance company says No.
What will be up next is an attempt to persuade Mom’s insurance company, Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield, to pay for use of an until recently experimental drug that not only – like some of the “miracle drug” she’s been taking – reduces some of the pain and symptoms associated with this bone decay, etc. – but also builds the bone back up (teriparatide - a synthetic hormone that the manufacturer calls Forteo). Ironically, the maker of this new medication – which has been marketing thie medication for about eight years – is Lily, whose foundation paid my salary and benefits for 4 ½ years. Ironically, I also got the news from my Mom minutes after making more calls over in Southern Indiana in support of President Obama’s health care reform.
The news is serious no matter what happens: First, Mom has some serious osteoporosis that puts her more at risk for something like breaking her hip (and recall that our friend Mary Hardison was never able to complete a hip replacement and is bed-bound at Westminster Oaks). Second, even if the insurance company approves coverage of the new medication, it involves use of a complex delivery system akin to diabetes, where Mom would have to inject herself with the medication every day. Third, if the insurance company nixes it, Mom might have to forego this potentially life-saving medication or get a lawyer to advocate for her with the insurance company or dip more heavily into her savings and change some other financial patterns.
We’ll see what happens. Mom doesn’t like needles but she seemed to accommodate herself to this possibility. Mom also didn’t seem very inclined to push it if the insurance company says No.
-- Perry
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