Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges

Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges Category

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – October 2009

Again, I am short on finances, so – like last month – I have to scrape and scrounge to afford to pay for my monthly supply of Sodium Phenylbutyrate (PB) meds from the Burzynski Clinic.

The cost is $4,500.00 for 1 month of Sodium Phenylbutrate, AminoCare A10 and Case Management…

More than twice+ my entire monthly salary for only ONE of five medications that I take to arm me in this fight.

I’ve now gone through the small amount of savings I had,
gone through the donations that have come in.

Can only hope the upcoming fundraiser produces something…
brings in something…
something.

CHARGES TO-DATE:
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – September 2009
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – August 2009
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – July 2009
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – June 2009
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – May 2009

Posted in Antineoplaston Therapy, Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Gene Therapy Drugs, Gene Therapy Regime | 1 Comment »

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Back on Xeloda Again

I’m back on Xeloda again
Back where I’m trying to mend
Where my body will be ripped
From the cancer that has gripped
Back on Xeloda again

Whoopi-ty-aye-oh
Rockin’ to and fro
Back on Xeloda again
Whoopi-ty-aye-yay
I get cancer out of my way
Back on Xeloda again

Ok, so I’m not a lyricist, no offense to Mr. Gene Autry.

After almost 4 weeks, I am back on Xeloda again…
Back on a very important medication in my battle…

4 weeks… almost a month… a month of lost time…

Lost time due to the attempted $1,500.00 “Medication Maintenance” fee from Burzynski Clinic.
Lost time due to to getting my PCP to write the drug refills for me, so that I can circumvent the “Medication Maintenance” fee.

Lost time…

Now…

I will again deal with more side effects, in addition to the side effects of the other drugs I’m taking (Tarceva, Zolinza, Zometa and Sodium Phenylbutyrate).

Again, adding Xeloda side effects…

The (most common) Xeloda side effects -

* Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, mouth and throat sores, abdominal pain, upset stomach, constipation, loss of appetite, and dehydration
* pain, swelling or redness of hands or feet that prevents normal activity, dry, itchy or discolored skin, rash, nail problems, and hair loss
* Tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, fever, pain (such as chest, back, joint, and muscle), difficulty sleeping, and taste problems

Happy Happy Joy Joy.

In Addition, I need to get the situation with Roche PAP cleared up – regarding the letter I got from them stating that they felt I should have pursued another resource for financial assistance before I went to them.

The letter advising me to contact Texas Health and Human Resources requesting assistance.

The letter telling me that if I am not approved, then Roche will reconsider my situation.

I have 30 days to do this. After 30 days, my drug assistance for Xeloda will end.

but for now…

I’m back on Xeloda again…

Tags: Xeloda

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Dealing with Gene Therapy Drug Reactions, Dr. R. Taylor, Gene Therapy Drugs | 2 Comments »

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Loosing My Mind

I’ve been able to loose a couple of the things weighing on my mind.
a couple of them
no longer on my mind…

* HER2 increase of 5.2
* Not enough money for September meds
* Burzynski $1,500 “Medication Management” fee
* Rejection by my PCP to handle Rx reorders
* Xeloda PAP Eligibility Denial

These are the things on my mind

No longer on my mind

Loosing my mind

Tags: Finances, Stress, Xeloda

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Dr. R. Weaver, Financial Assistance, Gene Therapy Drugs, Information, Patient Assistance Programs (PAP) | 2 Comments »

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Bending Over The Barrel

Since he helped before with my prescription of Zometa, I was presuming, assuming, hoping that my Primary Care Physician (PCP) would be amicable to handling the reorders (Rx refills) for the Tarceva, Zolinza, and Xeloda. This would eliminate the need to come up with the extra $1,500.00 that Burzynski Clinic is demanding in order to write my prescription refills. This would have taken a Huge stress off of me.

I had talked with the Drug Company PAP Reps and cleared with all to change the Doctor in charge of Rx reorders (refills) Dr from Burzynski to my PCP. All was good to go.

Guess I shoulda cleared with my PCP first and not ASS-U-M’ed, cuz I get the message that he is not good to go. He is not comfortable with writing Rx for cancer meds as he is an Internist and not an Oncologist.

So, I am back to dealing with the $1,500.00 “Medication Management” charge from Burzynski Clinic.

I am currently out of Xeloda, should have restarted today. But I have no reorder, no refill.

Unless I pay Burzynski Clinic the $1,500.00

They have me over a barrel.

Bending me.

Tags: Overload, Stress, Tarceva, Xeloda, Zolinza, Zometa

Posted in anger, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Dr. R. Taylor, frustration, Gene Therapy Drugs, Overload, scared, Stress, tired, venting | 2 Comments »

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Compromise…

So, I have a compromise… of sorts. HA.

Today I talked with one of the financial people at Burzynski Clinic, and they are “willing” to let me have 2 weeks of Sodium Phenylbutrate for a payment of $2,250.00.

However, they AGAIN want to collect $1,500.00 to “manage” my medications. ”Managing” means to submit refills for the Tarceva, Xeloda, Zolinza and Zometa – which are all due.

That’s All

Simply Submit The Refills to the drug companies = $1,500.00.

WTHeck??

I JUST informed them that I cannot afford the charge for my meds this month and they wanna ADD AN ADDITIONAL $1,500.00??

Funny thing is, that when I stated that I wanted a copy of this “new policy” in writing, I was told that it’s not in writing, it’s a verbal thing, that all new patients are being advised of the same policy.

W.T.HECK??

Tags: Finances, Xeloda, Zolinza, Zometa

Posted in anger, Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, frustration, venting | 1 Comment »

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

September Meds

Its time to get my September meds from Burzynski Clinic, and I’m afraid that I don’t have the finances to cover the monthly cost.

August was a big hit to my funds, took $6,490.00 to keep going… first the cost of my monthly meds ($4,620), the PET/CT scan ($1,200), the Bone Scan ($360), the Zometa infusion ($310) and the monthly blood tests coming up (about $120).

And my lack of fundraising has also stalled things. It’s just so difficult to try and do it all, all alone, especially when the medications make me So.Very.Tired…
so difficult, so disheartening, so tiring…
just.so.totally.overwhelming.

I have 2 days worth of meds left.
I need to come up with funds for September…

It’s not easy trying to Survive.

Tags: Blood Tests, Bone Scan, Finances, PET/CT Scan, Zometa

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Coping, despair, Emotions, frustration, loneliness, scared, tired, venting | 1 Comment »

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – August 2009

My August 2009 hit… Sodium Phenylbutrate, Aminocare A10 and Case Management… $4,620.00.

Ouch.

CHARGES TO-DATE:
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – August 2009
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – July 2009
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – June 2009
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – May 2009

Tags: Sodium Phenylbutrate

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Finances, frustration, Gene Therapy Drugs, hope | 7 Comments »

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – July 2009

My July 2009 hit… Sodium Phenylbutrate, AminoCare A10 and Case Management… $4,620.00.

Cha-CHING

CHARGES TO-DATE:
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – June 2009
Burzynski Clinic Monthly Charge – May 2009

Tags: Sodium Phenylbutrate

Posted in Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Finances, frustration, Gene Therapy Drugs, hope | 3 Comments »

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Off On A Hunt – Finding An Infusion Center

It was a Busy day today…

When I talked with Barbara T (the Financial Manager) at the Burzynski Clinic and told her that the charge of $1000 per infusion AND an Additional $1500/month to “handle” the (3 small vials of) Zometa was just more than I could afford, she told me “Well, we have to survive here”.

Excuse me? How About Me Surviving Here? If I can’t afford to stay at the Clinic, then I can’t pay for You to “survive” and if I’m dead, then I certainly am not paying for Your “survival”..

Then she looked me in the eye and Said “You are the one getting your medicine for free, right?”, like because I am getting financial assistance with my meds, that means I have the $2500/month extra to spend on other (unexpected) charges?

Nooooo… I’m getting the financial assistance because I don’t have health insurance and because I can’t afford the meds… I was Told $4500/month for my PB and my Case Management, I Signed a Paper Stating $4500/month, and That is what I have budgeted for.

If you can call applying for financial assistance, compiling info on organizing fundraisers and getting ready to sell on eBay “budgeting”… more on eBay (TeamDenise) later…

I guess they must have more patients than they can handle to not care if someone is unable to afford their services due to unexpected And Substantial increases in charges.

I want to live, I Believe in the Burzynsky treatment – I would NOT have stopped my chemo path and come to the Clinic if I did not believe. I Want To Live.

I swear, I’m starting to feel like this unconditional faith is similar to the years of faith I put in Clifford and look how That bit me in the big behind! Big.Time.

So… due to Those financial issues, I had to go by my (Totally Awesome) PCP’s (Primary Care Physician of the past 15yrs – Dr. Ronald Taylor) office and get him to write a prescription for Zometa for Novartis Oncology (the company that has granted me financial assistance with my monthly infusion of Zometa – the drug for the bone cancer).

I had to confirm that North Cypress Medical Hospital’s Infusion Center would accept physical receipt of my Zometa and would be able to give me my infusion and what the charges would be for receipt, compounding the drug into IV, infusion and storage (3 months per shipment). I was given a preliminary “ok” , but I have learned that “preliminary” is Not a confirmation, so I am not all excited… I was also given a cost range of $160 – $210, but – again – I have learned take numbers at face value where medical is concerned, so I will wait for a formal confirmation.

But it Seems like it will be doable…

We Shall See.

Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Mr. Sack, Zometa

Posted in anger, appreciation, Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Cancer, Dr. R. Taylor, Emotions, frustration, Gene Therapy Drugs, hope, venting | 2 Comments »

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Burzynski Clinic – Even More Charges.

I received yet Another call regarding finances from the Burzynski Clinic. Seems they are not satisfied with the $4500 per month for the Sodium Phenylbutyrate and “Case Management”, PLUS the $1000 per month for administering manufacturer provided Zometa infusion. NOW – since I am receiving assistance with my medications, and not purchasing from the Clinic - they intend to charge me $1500 for a “Medication Management” fee.

What The Heck?? With the exception of the Zometa, the meds are shipped directly to me. The Zometa is shipped in a 3 month supply and stored at the Clinic… and they want to charge me $1500 a month for that? To store 3 small bags??

Burzynski Clinic Drs are the ones who told me to go to the manufacturer’s and submit for assistance. They NEVER said ANYTHING about charging me Anything thing if I did get assistance!

I’M The One who got all the paperwork together and sent everything in. I’M the one who had to be sure the Clinic Drs got the forms completed and faxed in.

Seems every time I turn around, another triple zero fee is being added to my account.

Do they NOT realize that over charging does NOT help their bottom line, all it does is make treatment less accessible to more people?? I’ve referred at Least 4 people to the Clinic, NOT cuz I get any reimbursement, but because I Truly Believe. HOW can I continue to refer when I see how charges are added without consideration?

I don’t mind paying my fair share, but I DO have a problem with people kicking others when they are down. And Right Now – I Am Down. So Stop Kicking!

Yes, I believe in Burzynski’s protocol and treatment – TOTALLY. But I’m suddenly not sure if I’ll be able to continue on this path… nor to recommend it to others… And That Scares the Heck Out of Me.

Tags: Money

Posted in anger, Burzynski Clinic, Burzynski Clinic Financial Charges, Coping, Emotions, frustration, venting | 3 Comments »

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