Be Proactive: Insurance and CGRP Migraine Treatment (time is limited!)

The ups and downs of insurance coverage can be frustrating. But from today until Thursday night, you will have the opportunity to influence insurance companies before hand.

The Short Story: Experts are reviewing information on the CGRP targeting migraine drug, erenumab. They want to hear from you, before the end of the 30th of November 2017. They will use this information to advise insurance companies. See below for information on making your voice heard.

The longer explanation: Erenumab is one of the many CGRP inhibitor drugs that are in a race to hit the market. These unique medications have shown great promise in the treatment of migraine, chronic migraine, and even cluster headache. You can read more about some of the recent studies here: More Positive Results from the CGRP Migraine Treatments

Erenumab is first in line at the FDA, waiting for approval (a decision is expected in May 2018). The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is assessing the drug to see how cost-effective it is, and their report will be used by insurance companies. The insurance companies will then decide if and how they will cover this medication if your doctor prescribes it.

Your insurance company may consider things like how much they would cover, and what requirements they will have before they cover it (for example, what treatments you need to try first, etc).

So the bottom line is this: ICER wants to hear from you. And that means that your story can influence the insurance companies before they have made their decision. You can help them to make a more informed decision, and that could make all the difference as this and other new CRGP medications hit the market.

What to do

There is a brief form you can fill out, but you’ll probably want to do a little homework first if you can.

1. Today, at 3:00pm ET, The Headache & Migraine Policy Forum (HMPF) and The Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP) will be holding a conference call to answer your questions. To sign up to be a part of it, go here.
2. To get more information and to see suggested answers to ICER’s questions, check out this page at HMPF: PATIENT GUIDE FOR ICER REVIEW OF NEW MIGRAINE MEDICINE – DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30TH
3. Migraine Again has also posted a helpful article: Come Together: Speak Up Now for CGRP Coverage Next Year
4. All ready? Go and fill out the ICER form here.

Remember, the deadline in the 30th of November 2017. That’s Thursday. So fill it out today or tomorrow if possible! And if a migraine attack strikes, you still have Thursday. 🙂

Also, please share this post with others who deal with migraine so that as many people as possible can be a part of this.