ironjustice

I wonder if these .. newly to BE .. unemployed .. are medical ..
professionals .. ?

Guidelines On Anemia Drugs Undermine Doctors' Ability To Treat
Patients, Say Doctors
Article Date: 09 Sep 2007 - 0:00 PDT

New guidelines regarding anemia drugs are not good for patients, says
the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) - the guidelines
indicate the drugs have some potentially deadly adverse effects.

According to ASCO, the new Medicare Program guidelines undermine a
doctor's treatment options for patients with anemia. Medicare says it
will only reimburse physicians who use low levels of the drugs -
saying the risk of death will be less this way. After federal health
regulators added warnings to the labels of these drugs, explaining
that overuse can raise the risk of blood clots, heart attack and
death, Medicare changed the drugs' reimbursement guidelines.

The problem for doctors is that they are having deal with patients who
were receiving treatments before the guidelines came out, but cannot
any more. ASCO is asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) to abandon their reimbursement policy.

Beforehand, doctors would get reimbursed if they raised their
patients' hemoglobin levels to a maximum of 12 grams per deciliter -
now the limit is 10 grams per deciliter. ASCO is asking CMS to wait
till the FDA finishes its review of drug labeling for these drugs
before making its guidelines permanent.

Aranesp, an Amgen drug for treating anemia, has seen its sales fall
sharply recently. The company says it is planning to lay thousands of
workers off. Last year Aranesp constituted about 30% of the company's
income. Procrit, a Johnson & Johnson drug, which is also used for
treating anemia, has dropped in sales.

ASCO argues there is no scientific proof showing that the reduced
dosing is safer for patients. FDA approved labeling indicates the
dosages are safe up to 12 grams per deciliter. The FDA is having
another look at the labeling policy. However, a panel of advisers has
told the FDA the labeling should not be altered. The FDA is under no
legal obligation to do what the panel advises, but history has shown
that the agency usually complies with the panel's recommendations.


Who loves ya.
Tom


Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com


Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3


DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk

manky badger

???

In principle how is this different to a blood transfusion where the plan is
to raise Hb to about 10g/dl at most?
This is very old news.