[swimangel72]

Wow - I'm glad I found this thread! I'm in the process of switching oncs to save a long drive. Next week will be my first infusion with his office. Much to my dismay, his office manager called me this morning and said I'll owe them $80/month for the Herceptin and $80/month for the Navelbine! When I said why - that my old onc didn't charge me anything and all the drugs are the same AND they both take my insurance, she said they would cover the Navelbine charge but I'd still be responsible for the $80/month for the Herceptin (my Navelbine is only needed for an other 2 months - I'll have to continue with Herceptin every two weeks until April '09.)

I smell something fishy with this new onc - so I told them I couldn't afford to pay this monthly fee. Lo and behold, I get a phone call back and the manager tells me she contacted the pharmacy they deal with - and the recalculation is $60/month Herceptin and $40/Navelbine, but the Pharmacy will waive the co-pay since I said I can't pay it. I told her thanks - but that I was still surprised that they are billing through a pharmacy - why would they since this is part of a treatment? She said it's because of the reduction in Medicaid payments, and how all insurance companies are reducing their payments, so they need to recoup this way. I told her OK - but I hope half-way through the year they don't change their mind and hit me with a big bill, but she said no. STILL......I'm going to research another onc close to my house and see how they bill for the treatments. I have a bad taste in my mouth now and need to get rid of it with more research! Yuck!!