JointHealth™ express June 20, 2013
Congratulations, Manitoba!
Currently Manitoba ranks in eleventh place on the JointHealth™ Report Card on provincial formulary reimbursement listings for biologic response modifiers but that is about to change. Effective July 17, golimumab (Simponi®) will be listed on Manitoba’s public drug plan, which means the province will begin covering the medication’s cost.
The coverage criteria are as follows:
Until now, along with the Yukon which ranks last in Canada, Manitoba was the only other province that did not reimburse the cost of golimumab for the treatment of these three inflammatory arthritis types.
Golimumab is a biologic response modifier that targets the TNF-alpha molecule (also referred to as a TNF-blocker). Each person living with RA, AS, or PsA responds differently to the available medications, so no single biologic therapy is effective for everyone. The addition of golimumab means one more treatment option is available for residents of Manitoba, and that improves the chances of finding the right one for an individual.
Congratulations, Manitoba!
Currently Manitoba ranks in eleventh place on the JointHealth™ Report Card on provincial formulary reimbursement listings for biologic response modifiers but that is about to change. Effective July 17, golimumab (Simponi®) will be listed on Manitoba’s public drug plan, which means the province will begin covering the medication’s cost.
The coverage criteria are as follows:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
For treatment of patients over 18 years of age who have moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis who have failed treatment with at least 3 DMARD therapies, one of which is methotrexate and/or leflunomide unless intolerance or contraindications to these agents is documented. One combination therapy of DMARDs must also be tried. Initial application information should include information on disease activity such as the number of tender joints, swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein value. - Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
For the treatment of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis who have failed to respond to an adequate trial of at least three different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and, in patients with peripheral joint involvement, have failed to respond to methotrexate or sulfasalazine. - Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
For the treatment of patients over 18 years of age who have active psoriatic arthritis who have failed treatment with at least 3 DMARD therapies, one of which is methotrexate and/or leflunomide unless intolerance or contraindications to these agents is documented. One combination therapy of DMARDs must also have been tried. Initial application information should include information on disease activity such as the number of tender joints, swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein value.
Until now, along with the Yukon which ranks last in Canada, Manitoba was the only other province that did not reimburse the cost of golimumab for the treatment of these three inflammatory arthritis types.
Golimumab is a biologic response modifier that targets the TNF-alpha molecule (also referred to as a TNF-blocker). Each person living with RA, AS, or PsA responds differently to the available medications, so no single biologic therapy is effective for everyone. The addition of golimumab means one more treatment option is available for residents of Manitoba, and that improves the chances of finding the right one for an individual.
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE thanks Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) for its scientific review of ACE and JointHealth™ information and education programs.