I support the decision by CMS to cover the new gene therapy treatments for cancer patients broadly. It is good for patients. And what we learn will bring us closer to more cures.
And I worry... (1)
modernhealthcare.com/medicare/medic… via @modrnhealthcr
I worry mostly about uneven access.
The treatment is expensive and kids on Medicaid with leukemia need equal access to this curable treatment.
And the profit motive creates opportunities for abuse and safety issues if not done right.
My hope...(2)
My hope is that that providers of this treatment will commit 2 equal access regardless of ability to pay.
Medicaid programs aren’t funded as well as they need to be for new treatments (even without block grants & proposed Trump cuts). This CMS decision should make that possible.
Finally, thank you to the scientists & researchers & clinicians who have gotten us here. I know that they and we didn’t invest in this great research only to not have it used with every single person who can benefit from it.
PS. I visited a world class medical center sometime in the last year or 2 that was providing CAR-T and were quite proud.
I asked the CEO how many kids on Medicaid had received the treatment there since inception. The answer was 8. I don’t know how many more could have.
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