Plavix

[OLDDUDE63]

I had a heart attack 5 years ago. I had all 4 arterys blocked at least 95-100%.I had 4 stents placed in my heart . Last year they found another blocked artery. This time it re-routed its self and they did not have to do anything. All this was done by my outside doctor. He put me on Plavix 5 years ago. I had my drugs transfered to the VA. When my VA doctor re-newed my drugs this year,she did not re-new my Plavix.My outside doctor wants me to stay on plavix because of the 4 stents and the new blockage. The drug cost over $200 in the outside market. I am 70%. The VA pays 100% for all my other drugs. How can I get the VA to re-new my plavix before it runs out in 2 months?

[handler]

I would first go to my VA doc and make sure she didn't just forget to re-new the Plavix. May have been an oversight. If that wasn't the case, I would do this.

I had a similar situation and this is what I did and it worked out great.

I had my "outside" doctor write a prescription for the required drug. Then I had him give me the a copy of his chart notes which shows that he wanted me to continue with the drug in question.

I took the prescription and the copy of the chart notes into the VA clinic and, in my case, requested that the drug be mailed to me. My PCP at the VA looked at the information and then approved the drug and it was shipped to me within a week.

Hope this helps.

Edited June 23, 2011 by handler

[Pete53]

VA tries to make Doc's not prescribe plavix. I have been taking it going on 5 years.

Have your Doc write the prescription and explain there is nothing that can substitute for it.

[handler]

VA tries to make Doc's not prescribe plavix. I have been taking it going on 5 years.

Have your Doc write the prescription and explain there is nothing that can substitute for it.

I agree Pete53. Good stuff and it is a must if you have had stents.

[Chuck75]

"How can I get the VA to re-new my plavix" -- - -

You see an outside doctor, likely a cardiologist or other heart related specialist. The specialist prescribed Plavix.

You take a copy of the prescription to the PCP VA doctor. (Who is likely not qualified to overrule a treating specialist.)

Ask if the drug was accidentally not renewed.

If the doctor refuses to allow the VA to supply the drug - - -

Ask to have the reason in writing. If the doctor refuses, there are several ways to go.

Perhaps the simplest is ask to speak to the patient advocate.

At least you have some time before you are out of the drug.

As a veteran, under the veteran's "drug act", the VA is basically obligated to supply the drug when it's part of the VA's drug list. (It is, with or without co-pay, as appropriate.)

You can also state in writing that the treating doctor(s) must be notified, and approve any proposed change or substitution for a drug.

As to the actual dosage and how effective plavix might be - - "Tests are available to identify a patient's CYP2C19 genotype" (from the Mfrs information sheets)

My cardiologist stated that I would likely need to take plavix the rest of my life, unless something better was developed.

I got into a minor squabble a couple of years ago concerning nicotine patches vs gum. (My skin breaks out with patches.) I was told that the gum was not available for outpatient use.

I checked the VA's drug formulary, and found that the gum was supposedly available. Turned out that the gum was more expensive, and the local VAMC was for convenience, as well as cost limiting, following a practice of just giving it to live-in vets

at the VAMC's residence hall. The VA was forcing it's PCP's to fill out a bunch of paperwork to over ride the local practice for outpatient vets. I got the PCP's curiosity aroused, and the PCP went through the process, just to see how it worked (or didn't). (The answer was not very well)

I had a heart attack 5 years ago. I had all 4 arterys blocked at least 95-100%.I had 4 stents placed in my heart . Last year they found another blocked artery. This time it re-routed its self and they did not have to do anything. All this was done by my outside doctor. He put me on Plavix 5 years ago. I had my drugs transfered to the VA. When my VA doctor re-newed my drugs this year,she did not re-new my Plavix.My outside doctor wants me to stay on plavix because of the 4 stents and the new blockage. The drug cost over $200 in the outside market. I am 70%. The VA pays 100% for all my other drugs. How can I get the VA to re-new my plavix before it runs out in 2 months?

Edited June 23, 2011 by Chuck75