DISCLAIMER
The information and materials accessed through or made available for use on any of our Sites, including, any information about diseases, conditions, treatments, or medicines, are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and your participation on our Sites does not create a healthcare professional-patient relationship. You should consult a doctor or other qualified health care professional regarding any questions you have about your health or before making any decisions related to your health or wellness. Call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical emergency.compose your message
message sent
email sent successfully
Trusted Resources: News & Events
Latest announcements and gatherings
Sickle cell patients, families and doctors face a ‘fight for everything’
Francesca Valentine is gearing up for a fight with her insurance company over Endari, the new FDA-approved drug, which will likely be on the market in January. Endari is a highly refined version of a nutritional supplement called L-Glutamine, which has been shown to relax the stiff, sickle-shaped red blood cells of people with the disease. It’s the first of a number of new drugs in the pipeline and will cost about $3,300 per month for the average adult.
But many insurers plan to restrict how the drug covered. Several, including the Valentines’ Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Federal Employee Program, will cover Endari only if patients have “failed first” at other treatments, including blood transfusions and hydroxyurea (the only other drug available to treat sickle cell), even though in studies Endari appeared to be of benefit when given in conjunction with other treatments.
Related Content
-
Community CenterSickle Cell Patients Endure Discrimination, Poor Care And Shortened LivesFor more than a year, NeDina Brocks-Capl...
-
Community CenterThe Rise and Fall of My Mental Health With Sickle CellWe all know that mental health and ment...
-
education & researchIntegration of neuropsychology services in a sickle cell clinic and subsequent healthcare use for pain crisesObjective: Growing literature has docum...
-
Community CenterThe Truth About Chronic Illness in CollegeAs I write this post I am sitting in my ...
-
news & eventsASH to develop clinical guidelines to improve care for people with sickle cell diseaseThis World Sickle Cell Day, the American...
-
Community CenterSickle Cell and Its Peculiarities (I)Whenever I shared other people’s disti...
-
videos & visualsLia – A 2014 Short Filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcX_v6Os...
send a message
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
Support for this site is provided by
This platform is made possible through a partnership with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (SCDAA) and its member organizations. SCDAA's mission is to advocate for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empower community-based organizations to maximize quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure.