Drug Coverage for Transplantation Turns into Political Football: Big Business Trumps Patients

[摘要] As Congress took on the issue of health care last year, they had a golden opportunity finally to extend Medicare coverage for immunosuppressive medications for kidney transplant recipients from the current 36 months to lifetime. This is an issue that the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and other members of the transplant community has long advocated, but this opportunity was squandered when the interests of big business triumphed over the needs of patients, and the provision was dropped from the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act. Although lifetime coverage almost became a reality, the dialysis industry and those whom they support have proved that money ultimately wins in politics.

[学科分类] 泌尿医学

[关键词] Bone marrow necrosis;Sickle cell disease;Hyperhemolysis syndrome