HOPDs can end up on the hook for the full cost. Well aware of such
concerns, Omeros offers a patient-assistance program to help over-
come financing difficulties. However the process is a lot of work, says
a director of surgical services in New England. One other note: drug
prices typically drop significantly once their pass-through status has
expired.
"Shugarcaine" (compounded epinephrine and lidocaine), the most
popular intra-operative alternative, is much less expensive, but needs to be
delivered as a bolus at the beginning of the case, because it gradually wears
off as surgery progresses. This product is only available from compounding
labs; it has not gone through FDA's demanding pre-market approval
process.
"Reliable and predictable," is how Ms. Dayton describes it. "But since
ASCs are not allowed to mix their own anymore, we've had to resort to
purchasing it from a compounding pharmacy, which has increased our
cost." But, she says, the price increase turned out to be worth it for her
surgeons' peace of mind. When the price went up, "they tried using it
only for stubborn pupils. It took them only one day to realize how much
they depend on it and how much they missed it. We now use it on every
cataract case."
OSM
1 1 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 1 7