Medicare coverage of self-injectable products
Executive Summary
"South Carolina has the national distinction of being the only state in the U.S. where the Part B Carrier does not cover interferon for any indication...[or] the pre-operative use of epoetin alpha," Greenville, S.C. oncologist Mark O'Rourke told a recent HCFA "town hall" meeting. "The Pink Sheet" incorrectly listed products that O'Rourke considers to be "most-effectively administered by subcutaneous injection," including Amgen's Neupogen, Immunex' Leukine and Ortho's Procrit, as products not covered by the Medicare carrier (1"The Pink Sheet" July 31, p. 10)