AIDS/HIV Medications
AIDS/HIV Medications
The prices of HIV/AIDS medications are leaving many Americans without treatment.
Aids on the rise Insurance to help costs
What is AIDS/HIV? Food for thought
*The first cases of AIDS were reported in the United States in June of 1981
*Since then, more than 800,000 cases have been reported
*HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It works by weakening the immune system by destroying helper T-cells. Helper T-cells help to fight off infections and bacteria trying to enter the body
*AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and is the most advanced stage of HIV
*Viracept is a popular HIV medication. It is a protease inhibitor. "Protease inhibitors prevent T-cells that have been infected with HIV from producing new copies of the virus." Viracept costs $8,381 per year and $698 per month
*Combivir is another popular HIV medication. It is known as a NRTI (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor). NRTIs are sometimes referred to as "Nucleoside Analogues"- "prevent healthy T-cells in the body from becoming infected with HIV." Combivir costs $7,440 per year and $620 per month
HMO-
A HMO is any organized plan other than traditional health insurance companies that provides for your health care. It is a health care benefits program that usually has the lowest out-of-pocket costs. HMOs require that the member select a primary care physician, generally a family practitioner, internist or pediatrician, who is part of the plan's network
Advantages- There are generally no deductibles, small co-payments, and no claims to file
Disadvantages- an HMO with a gatekeeper, a referral is required from the primary
care physician to see any specialist in its network except an OB/GYN
PPO-
A PPO is an organization providing health care that gives economic incentives to individual purchaser of a health care contract to patronize certain physicians. They are similar to traditional fee for service health insurance. Patients are reimbursed 80-100 percent for treatment within the PPO versus 50-70 percent outside of it.
Advantages- there are more choices of which to go to, you pay less out of your own
pocket if you select a doctor that is in the network, Fewer administrative rules.
Disadvantages- more paperwork in order to receive reimbursement, less coverage for
treatment provided by non PPO physicians, Long time before reimbursement
*Fuzeon, which is a new drug waiting to be approved by the FDA, is injected and has to be taken with other drugs. The annual cost for this drug is $ 20,409 a year in addition to the cost of other HIV/AIDS medications.
* "Every year, 8,000 HIV-infected people who come to public clinic for HIV testing don't return a week later to receive their test results."
HIV/AIDS is highly contagious and can be transmitted relatively easily. Many people are still having unprotected sex. People feel as though they could never contract the disease and do not take precaution. Many people are continuing to go day to day unaware that they have the disease. This is continuing the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS. There are many individuals who know they have the disease but are not receiving treatment because they cannot afford the medication. "The average AIDS patient takes a combination of drugs that costs around $14,000 a year. Yearly treatment for people in advanced stages of the disease costs between $20,000 and $27,000." We need to find a way to make medication more affordable and more available to those who are in need.
-Many places offer anonymous and confidential testing you can get tested from:
-free clinics in your area
-At home testing kit
-hospital
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http://www.aidsmeds.com/List.htm
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DiSilvesto, R., Hampl, J., & Wardlaw, G. (2004). Impact of AIDS. In Perspectives in Nutrition 6th edition. (pp.741-743). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
FDA Consumer
(2003). Updates. Wilder use of rapid HIV test. FDA Consumer, 37,3, 3. Retrieved
November 5, 2003, from CINAHL database.
Hasty, S., Henderson, C.W., Kohn, C., and Walton-Brooks, D. (2003, March 31) News AIDS Drug Price Spurs
Question. Managed
Care Weekly Digest, 22-25. Retrieved November 5,2003, from
Epsco database.
Know HIV AIDS. (2002). The Facts. Retrieved September 29, 2003, from
http://www.knowhivaids.org/ep_facts.html
Merriam Webster Online. (2003). PPO. Retrieved September 29, 2003, from
Office of Patient Advocate. (2000). What is an HMO?, Retrieved September 29, 2003, from
www.opa.ca.gov/tips.asp
Women on Maintaining Education and Nutrition (2003). HIV/AIDS Medication. Retrieved
September 17, 2003, from http://www.educatingwomen.org/medication.php
This site was created by Lindsay Baier on 12/6/03
Towson University Student
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Insurance
to help costs