Once you receive the card, it’s just a matter of activating and you are on your way. There is a form for using the program with your mail-in prescription service as well.

One thing to mention is that if your clinic wants you to not take the generic version of Prograf when it becomes available, you will have to have your coordinator or Doctor contact your pharmacy to make sure they have a standing order to not supply you with anything but Astellas Prograf. I am not sure when this is going to become available, but I will being doing this next week so I know it is on file before my next refill is needed.

I would urge anyone taking Prograf to look into this program – it’s worth up to $250.00, so there isn’t any reason not to – you can use the extra dough you save to get that nifty new iPod touch…..

I don’t have the full details yet, but she did say that it is an assistance program set up by Astelas since many of the Transplant clinics are recommending that their patients not use the generic form of Prograf when it comes out. Yes, you read that correctly. I was specificaly told to not use the generic version of Prograf when it becomes available later this year. The reasoning for this is that the potency levels are not expected to be the same, or something like that; and since it is an essential drug for so many, they don’t want to risk it? I’m not sure about this bit. The cynical side of me thinks that is a crock of bull, and it’s just the big pharma company getting their way. The other side can see where hey would be cautious, and I for one would be very happy not to have my life goofed up by a new drug.

The Value Card Program will likely work like a debit card, so you can just use it every time you pick up your Prograf script. It is also only targeted to those who have private health care, and not those who are on government assisted programs – whether or not that would include the VA, I don’t know for sure but would assume as much.

There are still a lot of questions and unclear aspects just yet, but I will post more information as I get it. In the meantime, I would encourage anyone who is interested to contact the social worker attached to your hospital or clinic.

First off, I don’t have to return to clinic for a year! A whole freakin’ year!!! That to me is really almost inconceivable, there was no way I was ready for that to be the case. In part this has to do with all of my numbers looking great; except I had a slight fever this morning, why… I’m sure I have no idea, plus the fact that the RI on my Hepatic Artery was actually better with the results from the last CT scan, than the previous Ultrasound a few months ago. This is indeed good news, and means I may be reacting in a positive manner and not in need of another Angioplasty. You can see what the narrowing looks like in my rudimentary drawing on the right, the left branch is the artery where the stenosis is.

They also stopped my Cellcept, and reduced the amount of Magnesium Oxide that I will be taking. This is good for a couple reasons; first being that if I don’t take Cellcept, and now the mag ox only two times a day – no more 10pm meds! So if I am tired after 8pm I can actually go to bed, what a novel concept. And second, it will cost less dough, or more importantly I don’t need it. They did find I am quite a bit anemic right now, so I am going on iron, but getting off the Cellcept should help too since it reduces your iron count.  Finding out I am anemic is also kind of a relief because it helps to explain why I have been so tired and fatigued lately. Since June actually, since my count was better than what it is now then. So today was a good day.

I also have it on good authority that Prograf may be available as a generic drug soon, so the copay should go down on that as it becomes available.  I am really looking forward to this year and what it has in store for me and my family, my clinic visit was a well needed boost. It’s always good to hear right from the docs that everything is going well and they are very pleased with my progress….

This is a great site for anyone, and I don’t think it is limited to certain hospitals, I was transplanted at UPMC in Pittsburgh, and the DVD I received reflects that; although there are several organizations listed on their site – so I assume they are all associated with this program.

I just received it today, so I haven’t had a chance to watch the DVD yet – so I can’t vouch for what’s on it, but by the looks of their site – I am sure it will be well presented material. The site and package is also funded by Astellas Pharma, the company behind Prograf. I like the fact that Pharmaceutical companies are starting to do this sort of thing, I know it’s a dual purpose venture, but it’s not like I have a choice on which immunosuppressive drug I take. They have enough money fund well designed, and organized projects like this so they should be the ones who do it – besides, they know about the drugs they make, so it makes sense to me on several levels.

As a side note, don’t lick the sticky strip on the survey card they send you – it’s completely nasty!