StoresOnline.com "dinner conference"

The front of the mailing reads "FREE Seattle Dinner Conference ..." with a ticket for 2 to a 90-minute "conference." Oh, and a free gift of an MP3 Player.

Before you consider attending, be sure to read this web review,

Storesonline Reviews

I'm skipping the "dinner conference" offer.

Cancer drug pricing ABUSE

{originally posted on another blog, Jan 3, 2009}

So you thought $435 hammers and $640 toilet seats were taxpayer abuses?

They are chump change compared to this cancer drug pricing abuse ...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My mother, 77 yrs, was put on Thalomid Sept 2008, with her latest dosage at 200mg per day.

She was diagnosed (March/April 2008) with Multiple Myeloma while not in the Medicare Part D program, so we ended up paying full cost for the Thalomid. She will be getting Part D coverage in 2009, but that does not solve the pricing abuse, it just shifts the overcharge to taxpayers.

The following complaint to Celgene and Group Health highlights a pricing abuse by Celgene for equivalent dosage. Group Health responded (below), but Celgene has not ...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

[ Dec 16, 2008 complaint to patientsupport@celgene.com and Group Health customer service - some info masked for privacy]

My mother has medical coverage through Group Health ( http://www.ghc.org ).

She has been getting doses of Thalomid to treat her multiple myeloma.

Last month her oncologist prescribed 200mg / day for the 28 day cycle. We paid the Group Health Pharmacy $9074 for 2 blister packages of 100mg capsules.

This month her oncologist prescribed 200mg / day for the 28 day cycle. We paid the Group Health Pharmacy $6527 for 1 blister package of 200mg capsules.

We are profoundly concerned that for the same dosage of the product she was charged $2547 more because of a minor packaging difference. It is impossible to believe that one more set of blister packaging with 28 more capsules costs you $2547!!!

Is there any way for my mother to recover this unfair overcharge?

The details of the prescriptions follow ...

11-17-2008, Thalomid 28 day dose, 200mg /day; 2 blister packs of 100mg capsules (56 capsules); paid $9074.00
Authorization # 1583433; Rx Dispense Authorization # 1475947
Group Health Prescription # 3228-xxxx-501

12-16-2008, Thalomid 28 day dose, 200 mg /day; 1 blister pack of 200mg (28 capsules); paid $6527
Authorization # 1607302; Rx Dispense Authorization # 1497341
Group Health Prescription # 3518-xxxx-601

We have the payment receipts and drug packages.

Sincerely,
Cary xxxxx, son of Dorothy xxxxxx; Seattle

CC: Group Health Customer Complaints Form
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Group Health replied Dec 23, 2008. This reply indicates the pricing abuse originates with Celgene]

Mr. xxxxxx:

Thank you for your email. There is large cost variance between the 100mg and 200mg dosages charged by the drug manufacturer. Group Health does not mark up the price on our medications, any discount negotiated with the drug manufacturer is passed on to our members. The medication as received was billed appropriately. Unfortunately there will be no money refunded.

This is the Medicare annual election period and your mother is eligible to add prescription drug coverage to her plan as of January 1, 2009. I do see that you have contacted customer service regarding changes to the plan already. As your aware, to make plan changes we must receive a signed Clear Care election form by December 31, 2008. You can find information on the plans we offer, as well as an election form here.

Sincerely,

Josh Drake
Customer Service
Group Health Cooperative
www.ghc.org/customerservice
1-888-901-4636
TTY Relay: 711 or 800-833-6388

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Update, Jan 6, 2009 - Barr Pharmaceuticals challenges Thalomid patent for possible production of generic product. Competition from a generic brand could reduce the monopoly pricing by Celgene.

Update, Jan 9, 2009 - Found this other blog article about Thalomid pricing. The abuse is worse than I imagined.

###