Start treatment and have surgery

[Faithdove]

My husband is seeing doc next week to hopefully start treatment with the newly approved Sofo with RBV and INF. he has issues with his shoulder and thinks he can get surgery for that while starting this treatment. I do not know yet if his doc will prescribe this regimen and even if his insurance will cover it. (Express scripts). From all I have read, for his Hep C genotype 1a, he is going to have to get the INF regardless. Sooooo.....what do you all think. I am so worried about him, when he had is liver biopsy it said he was at a 3/4 ?? Not sure what that means.he has a lot of sensitivity in the area of his liver, and to me, has also appears to have fluid buildup. He looks 8 months pregnant to me, and the way his stomach bulges, i can't believe it is just fat. If it were you would you attempt shoulder surgery while on treatment. When he had his other shoulder done a few years ago, it was a living hell....please please ....tell me what you think. I can't stand to see him in all this pain. He also has much fatigue and sleepless nights and joint pain in general, I try to watch how much Advil he takes, because I know that is not good for the liver.

[Faithdove]

In regard to the coupon, this is the part that is confusing..The SOVALDI™ (sofosbuvir) co-pay coupon program will cover the out-of-pocket costs of your SOVALDI prescriptions after you pay the first $5 per prescription fill, up to a maximum of 20% of the catalog price of a 12-week regimen of SOVALDI. The coupon can be applied to up to 6 fills

So if WyoSue has to pay 30% with her own insurance and if she can use this coupon, does that drop her down to 20% copayment that would now be  around $15,000? Something doesn't make sense!!! That is a far cry from the $5!! Wahhhhhhh!!!!! I do not understand this, it has to be wrong, definitely would call the company and ask them. Also ask them if there are any other patient help programs available. Why put a carrot on the string as $5 and then say up to maximum of 20% catalog price (and is that catalog price different than the average wholesale price AWP)?

[Faithdove]

Have you considered asking your doctor about a clinical trial? Here is one that may be recruiting right now and if I could get my hubby on it, I would but it looks like the exclusion criteria would exclude him and we don't have time to change directions at this point....
Someone on another question just provided this:
Found a Phase 3 trial that just started recruiting Dec 17, 2013
with his Stage 3/4  Non-cirrhotic or cirrhotic?

A Study of an Investigational Treatment Regimen of Daclatasvir (DCV) + Asunaprevir (ASV) + BMS-791325 in a Fixed Dose Combination (the Triple Regimen) for 12 Weeks for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Genotype 1 Infection in Non-cirrhotic Subjects

Official title
A Phase 3 Evaluation of a Daclatasvir/Asunaprevir/BMS-791325 Fixed Dose Combination in Non-cirrhotic Subjects With Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C
ClinicalTrials Identifier: NCT01979939
This study is currently recruiting participants  

Eligibility
Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No

Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Subjects chronically infected with HCV genotype 1
HCV RNA ≥ 10,000 IU/mL at screening
Treatment-naïve subjects with no previous exposure to an interferon formulation (ie, IFNα, pegIFNα), RBV, or HCV DAA (protease, polymerase inhibitor, etc.)
Treatment-experienced subjects are eligible

Exclusion Criteria:
Evidence of cirrhosis
Liver or any other organ transplant
Current or known history of cancer within 5 years prior to enrollment
Documented or suspected HCC
Evidence of decompensated liver
66 Study Locations including many USA states , Canada, France, Australia, and Puerto Rico Most locations have started recruiting as of this post

link
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01979939?term=bms-791325&rank=5

What do you think!!!

[nursehepc]

FYI - Note that the the info for the co-pay coupon that can do man posted applies regardless of ability to pay. I obtained a coupon from their website and did not have to answer questions about my annual salary. Note also that I do not yet have a prescription either (i.e., can obtain coupon prior to obtaining prescription).

[nursehepc]

I would contact Gilead about options to help you with that $25,200 copay estimate. Although what can-do-man cites is correct, it could be read that the co pay assistance with Sovaldi would still apply for the portion of the cost that is not covered by the federal healthcare BCBS plan. Don't assume that you need to spend that money... Though you may have to, I doubt it. Gilead does not want cost to get in the way of treatment (it would add more headaches and more screams directed at them because of their cost decisions re: Sovaldi). Don't spend your retirement savings...when you may not have to...Good Luck. Joanne

[can-do-man]

I'm sorry it looks like your on a federal Insurance program

[can-do-man]

Is that including this???

Help with out-of-pocket costs

There are a number of ways we can provide financial support for treatment. Our specialists will explore funding options including a:

Co-pay coupon
The SOVALDI™ (sofosbuvir) co-pay coupon program will cover the out-of-pocket costs of your SOVALDI prescriptions after you pay the first $5 per prescription fill, up to a maximum of 20% of the catalog price of a 12-week regimen of SOVALDI. The coupon can be applied to up to 6 fills
For residents of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. Prescriptions must be filled by a pharmacy in these locations
The coupon is limited to one per person and is not transferable
Coupon is not valid for prescriptions eligible to be reimbursed: in whole or part by Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal or state-funded healthcare benefit program
by private plans or other health or pharmacy benefits programs that reimburse you for the entire cost of your prescription drugs

The SOVALDI co-pay coupon is not prescription drug coverage or insurance and is not intended to substitute for such coverage
Gilead Sciences, Inc. reserves the right to terminate or modify this coupon at any time without notice

Filling your prescription

When the time comes, you’ll want to be sure there’s a pharmacy with the medicine you need in stock. Some medicines may need to be filled at a specialty pharmacy. Support Path specialists can help you find the right pharmacy, and work to ensure your medicines reach you on time.