Pradaxa: difficulty with uptake because of ins. companies?
Small sample (1 doc) that it's very difficult in Mass. to prescribe, as it requires prior auth. from large insurance companies, such as Tufts, Blue Cross and Fallon. A few smaller ins. companies have it on their formulary.
This 1 doc has tried prior auth. route (as reco'd by drug reps) and been denied by each of the above 3 insurance companies, even though some of these pts require frequent INR checks for coumadin levels.
This doc will no longer make these prior auth. attempts for pts., as it's a pain-in-the-@ss to do these, until it is on insurance company formularies.
The new medicine? Ins. companies deny until there is an outcry (lifesaving medicine), or deny until generic is available, even though doctors determine there is a health/cost benefit?
