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Beth Joyner Waldron

Jan 31 • 6 tweets • 7 min read

@FTC

I filed a @FTC report on CVS Caremark practices forcing 150,000 heart patients off Eliquis over the pleas of 16 national nonprofits. Patients are captive PBM consumers in need of federal protection. Investigate @linakhanFTC @FTCPhillips @RKSlaughterFTC @CSWilsonFTC @FTCWATCH

@FTC

@FTC @linakhanFTC @FTCPhillips @RKSlaughterFTC @CSWilsonFTC @FTCWATCH Here's what the American Society of Hematology said to CVS Caremark:
"gravely concerned"
"serious impact" on patients
"ASH urges CVS to reconsider"
They cite clinical data showing ⬆️bleed risk ⬇️ outcomes.
hematology.org/-/media/hemato…

And here's 14 additional nonprofits urging CVS to reverse course because:
"this abrupt change will be dangerously disruptive for patients"
"unquestionably exacerbate health equity concerns that exist in cardiovascular care"
static1.squarespace.com/static/56e6efd…

@linakhanFTC

16 nonprofits told Caremark their decision was dangerous & they did it anyway. FTC investigation into the drug kickback/rebate deals between PBMs & pharma needed because it is putting patients at risk. @linakhanFTC @FTCPhillips @RKSlaughterFTC @CSWilsonFTC @FTCWATCH

The American College of Cardiology also met with Caremark. Caremark Pres is a cardiologist. They were fully aware of the safety data yet proceeded. acc.org/Latest-in-Card…

@linakhanFTC

Anticoagulants are the #1 class of drug for adverse events. They require careful management. That Caremark so blatantly ignored medical experts necessitates an investigation of why. Thank you for considering. @linakhanFTC @FTCPhillips @RKSlaughterFTC @CSWilsonFTC @FTCWATCH @FTC

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More from @BethWaldron

Beth Joyner Waldron

@BethWaldron

Jan 29

@JCScottPCMA

.@JCScottPCMA you say PBMs advocate for patients by ensuring drug access, yet when CVS Caremark dropped Eliquis from formulary it forced 150,000 stable heart patients off their effective therapy for non-medical reasons. Have a position @pcmanet? 16 nonprofits do. #StopTheSwitch

Here's the letter the American Society of Hematology sent Caremark. They also met with execs. Still Caremark went 🤷‍♂️
"gravely concerned"
"serious impact" on patients
"ASH urges CVS to reconsider"
They cite clinical data showing bleed risk, outcomes
hematology.org/-/media/hemato…

Read 13 tweets

Beth Joyner Waldron

@BethWaldron

Dec 31, 2021

@CVSHealth

In hours, I & 150,000 patients will be forced off the life-saving blood thinner our doctor ordered. Since @CVSHealth leaders would meet with top docs last week about it but not patients, I want @AlanLotvinMD to know one they are hurting. This is my life. THREAD.
Please amplify.

2) Here’s the house—er single wide trailer—I grew up in on a dirt road in eastern North Carolina. No silver spoon here. My dad worked at a meat packing plant 21 years doing maintenance. Strong work ethic. Never lacking for love. ♥️

3) Family raised a little livestock on the side $. I loved the goats best. This is Lollipop. I took her to Show n’ Tell at school in first grade. 🐐😍

Read 32 tweets

Beth Joyner Waldron

@BethWaldron

Dec 30, 2021

https://twitter.com/GBarnesMD/status/1476572313558478853

While grateful Caremark met with top clinicians, I'm angry CVS is choosing to ignore their medical expertise & is charging ahead in 24 hours to take stable patients off the anticoagulant which their doctors prescribed, ignoring #patientsafety. Disgraceful.

https://twitter.com/GBarnesMD/status/1476572313558478853

I also note that I & patient groups have tried to speak with CVS leadership for weeks without success. Our only methods then have been to resort to letters, petitions, and tweets like this. How can a company have such power over patient lives & yet we have no access?

This is the very situation in which consumers--patients in this case--need government to intervene & provide protection. We are powerless & do not have the ability to change PBMs. They are practicing medicine over us without our consent & over our doctors orders.

Read 4 tweets

Beth Joyner Waldron

@BethWaldron

Dec 30, 2021

1) Good evening.
Tonight's #CVS Caremark #PBM topic:
Prior authorization & filing exemptions for patients. Caremark is touting this to clinicians as a way patients currently on #Eliquis can remain on it after Jan 1. It's complete BS.😲 Here's why---->
THREAD

2) CVS Caremark's 'Executive Escalation Team' has been working with me to explore ways I & other patients can remain on Eliquis. I will use myself as example. I've been stable on Eliquis for 8 years. Here's what my exemption process will look like:

3) trial and failure of warfarin will not be required as a condition for approval (whew...did warfarin for 10 years & I NEVER want to go back!)

Read 13 tweets

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