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Author Topic: Starting Tuesday  (Read 6831 times)

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Offline mrl914

  • Member
  • Posts: 16
Starting Tuesday
« on: December 06, 2015, 11:30:49 am »
Pretty weird story.

My primary care doc convinced me to see the liver center where I live (Research Triangle, NC). Took over three months to see doc at center. He thought I was a good candidate. Got a bunch of blood work, Fibroscan & ultra sound. The folks at the center submitted the info to my insurance carrier last Thursday and told me it would take 3 - 4 weeks at get answer. Friday morning I got call from insurance co that I was accepted for Harvoni. My co-pay would be $10.6 k.

The center has programs to help pay the costs so immediately after speaking with insurance co, I got on the phone with the medication assistance specialist. She asked what my income was, emailed me paperwork that required my signature, I signed & email back to her and received a return email in 5 minutes stating that I was accepted and would receive my medication at NO cost.

Called the liver center back, spoke with the pharmacist who said that my first month's Harvoni would ship on Monday & that I would receive it on Tuesday.

Whew and wow!!!
M/68 yr
Genotype1b
1985 Diagnosed acute non a/non b
1992 Diagnosed chronic HCV
1993 Interferon monotherapy failed
June 2015 ALT 73 (0-44)
June 2015 AST 94 (0-40)
June 2015 HCV RNA 3.1 million
Nov 2015 ALT 76 (12-72)
Nov 2015 AST 113 (19-55)
Nov 2015 HCV RNA 1.2 million
Fibroscan 10 (F2-3)
Harvoni 12 wks - start date 12/08/15
Jan 2016 ALT 18 (19-72)
Jan 2016 AST 33 (19-55)
Jan 2016 HCV RNA No Virus Detected
March 2016 ALT 22 (19-72)
March 2016 AST 31 (19-55)
March 2016 HCV RNA No Virus Detected

Offline Else

  • Member
  • Posts: 523
  • Appeal, appeal, and appeal again!
Re: Starting Tuesday
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2015, 02:19:47 pm »
Congratulations!  Yes, patient assistance with co-pays is invaluable!  How long are you on treatment?
F/53 yr
diagnosed 1995
Genotype 1a
ALT: 58 AST: 39 ALK: 105
Viral load 4,201,950 IU/ml
Fibroscan 6.5 (F1-F2) Fibrosure 0.36 (F1-F2)
Treatment-naive
After 3 denials, finally approved!
Harvoni 12 wks - start date 9/15/15
4 wk labs 10/14/15
ALT: 12 AST: 16 ALK: 85
HCV Not Detected!!!
8 wk labs 11/10/15
ALT: 13  AST: 15  ALK: 77
12 wk (EOT!) labs 12/8/15
ALT: 11 AST: 15 ALK: 78
HCV Not Detected!!!
10wk posttx labs 2/11/16
ALT: 22 AST: 17 ALK: 61
HCV Not Detected!! SVR10!!!
SVR10 (99.7% Cured!!!)

Offline mrl914

  • Member
  • Posts: 16
Re: Starting Tuesday
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2015, 02:32:01 pm »
12 week course. Doc says that w/o cirrhosis 24 week not indicated.

Was amazed that insurance was approved overnight - haven't heard that before.

What does ALK on your sig file mean and why is it significant?
M/68 yr
Genotype1b
1985 Diagnosed acute non a/non b
1992 Diagnosed chronic HCV
1993 Interferon monotherapy failed
June 2015 ALT 73 (0-44)
June 2015 AST 94 (0-40)
June 2015 HCV RNA 3.1 million
Nov 2015 ALT 76 (12-72)
Nov 2015 AST 113 (19-55)
Nov 2015 HCV RNA 1.2 million
Fibroscan 10 (F2-3)
Harvoni 12 wks - start date 12/08/15
Jan 2016 ALT 18 (19-72)
Jan 2016 AST 33 (19-55)
Jan 2016 HCV RNA No Virus Detected
March 2016 ALT 22 (19-72)
March 2016 AST 31 (19-55)
March 2016 HCV RNA No Virus Detected

Offline Else

  • Member
  • Posts: 523
  • Appeal, appeal, and appeal again!
Re: Starting Tuesday
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2015, 02:40:36 pm »
ALK is just a standard reading from a hepatic function panel, along with AST and ALT.
F/53 yr
diagnosed 1995
Genotype 1a
ALT: 58 AST: 39 ALK: 105
Viral load 4,201,950 IU/ml
Fibroscan 6.5 (F1-F2) Fibrosure 0.36 (F1-F2)
Treatment-naive
After 3 denials, finally approved!
Harvoni 12 wks - start date 9/15/15
4 wk labs 10/14/15
ALT: 12 AST: 16 ALK: 85
HCV Not Detected!!!
8 wk labs 11/10/15
ALT: 13  AST: 15  ALK: 77
12 wk (EOT!) labs 12/8/15
ALT: 11 AST: 15 ALK: 78
HCV Not Detected!!!
10wk posttx labs 2/11/16
ALT: 22 AST: 17 ALK: 61
HCV Not Detected!! SVR10!!!
SVR10 (99.7% Cured!!!)

Offline nxs450

  • Member
  • Posts: 10
Re: Starting Tuesday
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2015, 07:44:23 pm »
Great news! I just started Harvoni today and so far, so good. I was approved fairly quick for tx as well and my copay is $5. It was pretty crazy looking at the bottle of 28 pills on my counter and thinking wow, there is $32k sitting there!
Hep-C, geno type 1b
failed Interferon/Ribavirin tx 6/23/2000
start Harvoni 12/6/15

Offline Philadelphia

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 1,157
  • It only looks like I know what I'm doing
Re: Starting Tuesday
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2015, 12:36:12 am »
Good news! all the best for treatment - you'll be fine. :)
CURED SVR24  Class of 2015
Wk 12 post EOT 30.11.15: ALT 14 AST 22 GGT 22 VL UND
Week 19 07.08.15: ALT 17 AST 23 GGT 25
Week 12 18.06.15: ALT 21 AST 23 GGT 28
Week 8 25.05.15: ALT 23 AST 27 GGT 30 VL UND
Week 4 20.04.14: ALT 30 AST 36 VL 40
Treatment start 23.03.15: ALT 137 AST 185 VL 342,600
Cirrhosis Child-Pugh A, Genotype 1a - Viekira Pak + riba 24 weeks
Total failure interferon/ribavirin/boceprovir Mar 2013
https://www.hepmag.com/blogger/grace-campbell

Offline Else

  • Member
  • Posts: 523
  • Appeal, appeal, and appeal again!
Re: Starting Tuesday
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2015, 09:55:30 am »
Hi Nxs!  You'll do fine.  Congratulations on getting treated.
F/53 yr
diagnosed 1995
Genotype 1a
ALT: 58 AST: 39 ALK: 105
Viral load 4,201,950 IU/ml
Fibroscan 6.5 (F1-F2) Fibrosure 0.36 (F1-F2)
Treatment-naive
After 3 denials, finally approved!
Harvoni 12 wks - start date 9/15/15
4 wk labs 10/14/15
ALT: 12 AST: 16 ALK: 85
HCV Not Detected!!!
8 wk labs 11/10/15
ALT: 13  AST: 15  ALK: 77
12 wk (EOT!) labs 12/8/15
ALT: 11 AST: 15 ALK: 78
HCV Not Detected!!!
10wk posttx labs 2/11/16
ALT: 22 AST: 17 ALK: 61
HCV Not Detected!! SVR10!!!
SVR10 (99.7% Cured!!!)

Offline KimInTheForest

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,972
  • Believe in yourself
Re: Starting Tuesday
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2015, 02:35:25 pm »
Great news! I just started Harvoni today and so far, so good. I was approved fairly quick for tx as well and my copay is $5. It was pretty crazy looking at the bottle of 28 pills on my counter and thinking wow, there is $32k sitting there!

Congrats on starting treatment nxs! You are on your way to being cured. :)

kim
Kim Goldberg (Nanaimo, BC)
1970s: Contracted HCV (genotype 3a)
2015: Cured with Harvoni + ribavirin (12 weeks)
MY STORY: https://pigsquash.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/undetectable-my-hep-c-story/

 


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