According to the European Leukemia Network (ELN) recommendations for the management of chronic myeloid leukemia, the first-line treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia is imatinib 400 mg once daily, or dasatinib 100 mg once daily or nilotinib 300 mg once daily. In other words, the treatment of choice for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor such as imatinib (Gleevec). Starting from April 1, 2013, Henan Province’s New Agricultural Cooperative (NAC) patients will be reimbursed 80% of their Gleevec medication costs for the first three months of the year for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, with a gift of Gleevec assistance from the China Charity Federation for the last nine months. This will allow patients with chronic myeloid leukemia enrolled in the New Agricultural Cooperative in Henan Province to take Gleevec treatment for only about 14,000 yuan per year. At present, many patients are still unaware of this policy and are unable to take Gleevec treatment, losing the opportunity for treatment. Here is an introduction about the process of assistance program: Liu Xinjian, Department of Hematology, Henan Cancer Hospital
The process of Gleevec assistance for patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia in Henan Province
1. Bring the report form of bone marrow cell morphology, chromosome, fusion gene, medical record and diagnosis certificate for diagnosis of chronic granulocytic leukemia to the local Nonghe office to get the application form (i.e. Annex I after the document, if the local Nonghe does not have it, you can directly copy Annex I). Make three copies, affix photos and seal. At the same time, apply for outpatient electronic referral to Henan Cancer Hospital. (Note: If the patient is being hospitalized, he/she needs to go through the discharge procedure before he/she can go through the outpatient referral procedure.)
2. Bring three copies of application form, outpatient electronic referral form, ID card, agricultural cooperation book, household register and all information of medical records to Provincial Cancer Hospital (intersection of Dongming Road and Weiwu Road).
3. The registered doctor registers the patient’s medical history and prescribes three copies of prescriptions (one copy to be kept in the hospital, one copy to be sent to the Charity Federation, and one copy to be used for reimbursement by the Civil Affairs Bureau for low income households). Take a maximum of two boxes of medicine at a time (to avoid side effects or changes in condition can not continue to take the medicine can not be returned, and cause unnecessary financial losses).
4. Go to the Agricultural Cooperative Office on the second floor of the outpatient clinic to review documents and apply for registration.
5. Pay the fee (monthly cost about 24,000 yuan, only 20%, that is, 4,800 yuan. (The remaining 80% will be advanced by the hospital and later settled by the hospital and the local agricultural cooperative). Receive medicine.
6. Make 4 copies of the invoice and take it back to the doctor for stamping (one copy to be sent to the Charity Federation, one copy for reimbursement by the Civil Affairs Bureau for low-income households, one copy to be kept at the doctor’s office, and one copy to be retained by the patient).
7. The registered doctor fills out the application form for charitable assistance and applies for free medication for the 4th to 12th month. The application form should be stamped by the local township or village government.
8. In the second and third month, you do not need to apply to the local agricultural cooperative, take the original application form to come directly to the prescription to buy drugs. If you are hospitalized, you still need to go through the hospital discharge procedure and apply again at the Nonghe.
9. After 2 months of medication, review the bone marrow cell morphology, chromosomes, fusion genes, etc., and register the doctor to fill out the medical evaluation.
10. Send three months’ prescriptions, copies of invoices, charity aid application forms, medical evaluation letters, copies of ID cards, copies of family register, and copies of Nonghe book or card to Beijing China Charity Federation. Wait for the notification from the Charity Federation.
11. After receiving the notification in the fourth month, the patient must go to the registered doctor to get the prescription for free medicine and collect the medicine from the provincial charity federation once a month.
12. Repeat the above procedure for the second year, but do not need to go to the township government for stamping.
For further information, please contact: Zhang (yan) Li, Chief Physician, Department of Hematology, Henan Cancer Hospital, China 13203729690