30.06.2013 Views

How does the operation of PHARMAC's 'Community Exceptional ...

How does the operation of PHARMAC's 'Community Exceptional ...

How does the operation of PHARMAC's 'Community Exceptional ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

myocardial damage. It is believed that oral morphine substitute (methadone) is<br />

<strong>the</strong> cause <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Q-T prolongation. The woman had been diverting this drug by<br />

injecting <strong>the</strong> medicine intravenously and not taking it orally. Her specialist noted<br />

that <strong>the</strong> she was at risk <strong>of</strong> septicaemia and endocarditis if she continued on<br />

methadone, particularly injecting it intravenously.<br />

The patient requested that she be given more methadone treatment however<br />

<strong>the</strong> specialist believed this would be contraindicated. The patient’s doctor made<br />

a Community <strong>Exceptional</strong> Circumstances claim for a drug named Suboxone.<br />

This is a home-based treatment <strong>of</strong> narcotic medication indicated for <strong>the</strong><br />

treatment <strong>of</strong> opioid dependence and an alternative medicine to methadone.<br />

The cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> treatment was anticipated to be between $3,790 and $5,685<br />

annually and <strong>the</strong> claim was for an indefinite period.<br />

This claim was approved because it met <strong>the</strong> second criteria (criteria [b]) on <strong>the</strong><br />

application form which states a ‘reaction to alternative treatment unusual<br />

(unusual is considered

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!