Besremi

[K-itty]

I keep thinking of additional questions to ask here in addition to my previous posts about Jakafi.When my oncologist suggested that I start this drug after trying to take HU, I suggested Besremi? He said he can't get it although he's tried several places? I'm confused? Is it not offered in the U.S.? I see that many are on this injection on this site?

[hunter5582]

Besremi is readily available from multiple specialty pharmacies all over the United States. The specialty pharmacy preferred by your insurance plan should be able to access it without any problem. You can also go through one of the specialty pharmacies that are connected through the Pharma Essentia Source program.

Enrolment form besremihcp.com/pdf/PharmaEs...

Ordering information for providers besremihcp.com/pdf/BESREMI-...

I originally ordered through Biologics, who did a particularly good job. My doc switched me to their in-house pharmacy at Johns Hopkins. They are OK, but I have to ride them a bit more and their patient support is lower. As long as I get the meds on time, I can work with it.

Getting it approved is another matter. That is a different story. Check your formulary to see if it is there. If it is not, then it is more of a challenge. Note that the cost of Jakafi and Besremi are roughly the same.

[Joey1025 in reply to hunter5582]

Hi Hunter,

Thank you very much for the useful information. My brother Jacob starts Besremi recently (he lives in California). There are a lot to learn- I see many others also run into difficulties in obtaining insurance approval for Besremi, would getting approval for Jakafi be easier?

[hunter5582 in reply to Joey1025]

It depends on the formulary on your insurance plan. Jakafi has been available for longer and might be more readily available on some plans. The has been time, however, for Besremi to be added to the formulaties at this point. The cost of the two medications is about the same. They are both higher-tier medications that require a prior authorization process.

Besremi and Jakafi are the only two medications with FDA approval to treat PV. Accessing either medication requires understanding how the authorization process works on your plan. Note, that even if a medication is not on the formulary, you can often still get it approved. It is just more difficult and time consuming.

Suggest you check the formulary on your insurance plan. Request the plan rules (guidelines) for getting Besremi approved. If you do the research regarding how to get besremi approved, you can inform your doctor and save the doc time. You should expect that the request will initially be denied. It will require an appeal. It might be approved at the first stage, after a peer-to-peer or medical services review. If it is still denied, that is not the end of the authorization. There are further steps in the appeal process. Hopefully, that will not be necessary.

[Joey1025 in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you again. Very helpful!

[monarch5000]

As I said earlier, an "oncologist" is unlikely to have experience prescribing either Pegasys or Besremi interferon so they won't know about dosing, etc. so will tend to resist prescribing it. But down in Los Angeles there are MPN specialists like this one who prescribe it routinely: youtu.be/OsdoYoA1kLQ(Not working as expected?)

[Elizka]

Follow Hunter's advice and find out if your insurances formulary covers it. My MPN doctor is part of a large cancer center in California and their speciality pharmacy has been invaluabl in getting Besremi and making sure I have no co-pay.

[K-itty in reply to Elizka]

Where in California is the Cancer Center? I live in Capitola, CA. A very short flight to LA. If that's where it's located?

[Elizka in reply to K-itty]

UC Davis Health in Sacramento

[PhysAssist]

Hi K-itty,

It's here- mine is ordered through Onco360, so have him try there.

It did take an extra month or two after they ordered, and got insurance approval for it, which was the pharmacy not having enough for me, but once they started shipping it [monthly], it has been arriving regular as rain.

God bless and don't take no for an answer!

PA