Macular Degeneration Coverage
Abstract
Sen Herb Kohl (D, Wis) and Sen Sherrod Brown (D, Ohio) are asking Medicare to cover a much less expensive treatment option for individuals with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The senators' request comes after a clinical trial showed bevacizumab (Avastin), at about $50 a dose, is equivalent to treatment with the current gold standard, ranibizumab (Lucentis), which costs about $2000 a dose (Martin DF et al. N Engl J Med. 2011;364[20]:1897-1908). In a July 20 letter to...