Latest news with #Ocrevus
Health Line
20-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Does Medicare Cover IV Infusions?
Medicare covers intravenous (IV) infusion therapy when a doctor prescribes it as medically necessary. Original Medicare Part A typically covers the costs if you have an IV infusion during an inpatient hospital stay. If you have an IV infusion on an outpatient basis, Original Medicare Part B can cover eligible expenses. Out-of-pocket costs apply in both cases. Medicare Advantage plans must cover the same services as Original Medicare, so coverage for IV infusions is the same. However, out-of-pocket expenses may differ. Does Medicare cover IV infusions? Original Medicare (parts A and B) and Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may all cover IV infusions if they're medically essential. Confirming your hospital status (inpatient or outpatient) with your healthcare team is important, as this can affect how much you pay out of pocket and which Medicare part can cover services. Original Medicare comprises parts A and B. Part A covers inpatient care, where you experience hospital admission for care. If you receive an IV infusion during your hospital stay, you must pay the 2025 deductible of $1,676 per benefit period. A benefit period starts when you receive a hospital status confirmation as an inpatient and ends when your team discharges you and doesn't provide inpatient care for 60 consecutive days. Part B covers outpatient care, including overnight hospital stays, so checking your hospital status is vital. In 2025, the Part B deductible is $257, and you must pay this amount before the plan pays its share of costs toward an IV infusion. How much does an IV infusion cost? IV infusions can vary in cost depending on the type of drug or fluid you receive. If a doctor prescribes a salt treatment, they may use IV sodium chloride. These saline solutions have several medical purposes, including treating dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Saline-only IV solutions can be relatively inexpensive, but the costs can increase significantly for IV medications. For example, an initial dose of IV morphine for pain management can cost around $145. In contrast, the current list price for ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), a medication that manages multiple sclerosis (MS), is around $78,000, although people don't usually pay this. Medicare and at-home infusions Home infusion therapy means getting IV or subcutaneous drugs or biologicals at home. You need the drug, equipment like a pump, and supplies, such as tubing and cannulas. Nursing services are also necessary so that you or a caregiver can learn how to administer the medications safely. Medicare Part B covers home infusion equipment and supplies as durable medical equipment (DME). It also covers the required nursing services to teach you how to administer the medications. You must typically pay 20% of eligible expenses as a coinsurance under Part B.
IOL News
22-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
DJ Scoob SA: Battling multiple sclerosis through music
Despite the challenges of multiple sclerosis, DJ Scoob SA continues to light up dance floors across Cape Town. DJ Scoob SA, a well-known Cape Town artist, continues to DJ while battling multiple sclerosis (MS), while his wife has started a BackaBuddy campaign to raise funds for his Ocrevus treatment. For Nathan Williams, aka DJ Scoob SA, DJ'ing is not just a career, it's a lifeline and passion. In 2013, Williams's life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with MS and has been receiving treatments, which cost up to R30 000 per dose of Ocrevus infusion. MS is a disease that causes the breakdown of the protective covering of nerves and can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking, vision changes and other symptoms. Williams currently has secondary-progressive MS and there is no cure. At least 20-40% of people with relapsing-remitting MS can eventually develop a steady progression of symptoms, which is known as secondary-progressive MS. MS has affected most parts of Williams's life and that of his family, but he remains positive with their support. 'I was still in school when I was diagnosed. At the time, I was very fit and actively involved in sports. 'I had already developed a passion for DJ'ing while in high school and dreamed of pursuing a career in sports. "However, after his diagnosis, it felt like my whole world came crashing down. "I attempted to work regular jobs, including positions in call centers, but the symptoms of MS proved too challenging for my body. "Today, I am an avid DJ and have turned that passion into my main source of income and a lifeline.' He said his children have made living with the disease easier as they constantly support and encourage him. He explained that medical costs have been mounting, which has become challenging for him and his family. 'My medical aid costs around R5 500 per month, not including the additional medication I need. 'Over the years, I've been on various treatments, but due to not being able to afford comprehensive medical aid earlier, I had to rely on state hospitals. 'Unfortunately, they don't have access to the more effective disease-modifying therapies, and during that time, my condition progressed. 'As a result, I now have secondary progressive MS. There's currently no cure or medication that can reverse the neurological damage caused by MS. 'I'm now on Ocrevus, and each infusion costs approximately R30 000. "I receive these infusions two to three times a year. It's not only been a massive financial burden, but also a constant battle to get my medical aid to cover the costs of this critical treatment.' Williams said the disease has been debilitating but that his music kept his spirits alive. His wife, Liesel, who has started a Backbuddy account for him, aims to raise R150 000 to foot medical bills. 'DJ Scoob SA has played alongside some of the city's most well-known DJs and lit up dance floors at top nightclubs across the Mother City. His sets are electric, his energy infectious, and his love for music undeniable. "It's not just a career for him; it's a lifeline. His music is how he expresses himself, stays connected to the world, and earns an income. 'DJ Scoob SA is currently receiving Ocrevus, one of the few treatments that can slow the progression of MS. However, the cost of Ocrevus in South Africa is extremely high and not fully covered by medical aid. Each dose is a massive financial burden, but without it, his condition will only worsen." For more information follow DJ Scoob SA's BackaBuddy page on Cape Argus
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Swiss pharma giant Roche pledges to invest €47 billion in the US
Swiss pharmaceuticals powerhouse Roche announced that it would invest $50bn (around €47bn) in the United States over the next five years, creating 12,000 jobs. The announcement comes as US President Donald Trump has urged foreign businesses to invest more in the United States, and announced sweeping tariffs earlier this month on imports as part of his hopes to reduce a large US trade deficit when it comes to sales of goods. The Basel-based company, like cross-town competitor Novartis, has deep ties to the US market with more than 25,000 employees, 15 R&D centres and 13 manufacturing sites. Roche said in a statement that the investment would go toward high-tech research and development sites and new manufacturing facilities in places including California, Indiana, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The firm's array of products include cancer medicines and multiple sclerosis treatment Ocrevus. Before the Trump administration backed off its most stringent tariff plans, products imported from Switzerland had been set to face tariffs of 31% — more than the 20% tariffs on goods from the European Union. Switzerland is not a member of the 27-country bloc but is virtually surrounded by four EU countries. Trump's sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs on 2 April set off turmoil in world stock markets. A week later, Trump spoke by phone with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter in a conversation that her office said focused on tariffs. She emphasised the "important role of Swiss companies and investments in the United States." Hours later, the US president announced the U-turn that paused the steep new tariffs on about 60 countries for 90 days, fanning speculation — which was not confirmed — in some Swiss media that her chat with Trump might have played a role in the change of course. Besides new R&D centres, the company is building a "state-of-the-art gene therapy manufacturing facility" in Pennsylvania and another manufacturing centre to "support Roche's expanding portfolio of next-generation weight loss medicines at an unnamed location, among others. Roche said that once the new, expanded manufacturing comes on-line, the company "will export more medicines from the US than it imports" — though it made no mention of tariffs. "Today's announced investments underscore our longstanding commitment to research, development and manufacturing in the US," Roche CEO, Thomas Schinecker, said in a statement. The planned investment will add 1,000 jobs at Roche in the US and "more than 11,000 in support of new US manufacturing capabilities," it said, which will increase its footprint in the United States to 24 sites in eight states. Roche tallied more than 60bn Swiss francs (€64.3bn) in worldwide sales last year, and nearly 25bn francs (€26.8bn) of sales in its key pharmaceuticals division alone came in the United States. Roche's share price has fallen by about 18% over the past month, with most of the drop coming after the US tariff announcement on 2 April. Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Roche to invest $50 billion in US to avoid Trump tariffs, create 12,000 jobs, ETHRWorld
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETHRWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App ZURICH: Roche said on Tuesday it would invest $50 billion in the United States over the next five years, creating more than 12,000 new jobs , in the latest massive investment by companies reacting to President Donald Trump's tariff announcement comes as drugmakers unveil investments to deal with tariffs from the Trump administration, which is seeking to boost domestic manufacturing Fellow Swiss drugmaker Novartis earlier this month said it would spend $23 billion in the United States, while Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson also announced sizeable investments recently."Our investments have also been aligned with the Swiss government and form part of the ongoing discussions between the U.S. and Switzerland," a Roche spokesperson Executive Thomas Schinecker said the investment underscored Roche's commitment to the United States, where it employs 25,000 people across 24 the 12,000 new positions, nearly 6,500 will be in construction and 1,000 at new and expanded facilities, the Swiss pharma giant EXPORTS FROM capacity comes online at the various facilities, Roche will export more medicines from the United States than it imports, the Basel company United States is a crucial market for Roche, which generated nearly 48% of its sales there in 2024, thanks to blockbuster drugs like asthma and food allergy treatment Xolair and Ocrevus for multiple will expand its manufacturing and distribution centres in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey and California, although some of the projects have been previously schemes unveiled on Tuesday included a factory to make weight loss medicines, with the location yet to be announced, and a new plant for continuous glucose monitoring in Indiana."Our investments of $50 billion over the next five years will lay the foundation for our next era of innovation and growth, benefiting patients in the U.S. and around the world," Schinecker said in a executive did not mention the threat of looming tariffs, although Roche has analysed potential charges in recent weeks and was "well prepared to navigate them, apply mitigation measures, and adapt," a spokesperson said there were no plans to cut back on its investments in the rest of world, saying it would provide more details of its investment strategy over the next few week, the Trump administration launched a probe into pharmaceuticals imports, as part of a bid to impose tariffs on the timing and extent of the levies remain uncertain but the impact could be big, with close to $213 billion in pharmaceutical products imported to the U.S. last year, nearly triple 2014's $73 billion, according to the United Nations trade database.(Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Miranda Murray and Bernadette Baum)
Irish Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Roche to invest $50 billion in US to avoid Trump tariffs, create 12,000 jobs
Roche said on Tuesday it would invest $50 billion (€43.6 billion) in the United States over the next five years, creating more than 12,000 new jobs, in the latest massive investment by companies reacting to President Donald Trump's tariff policy. The announcement comes as drugmakers unveil investments to deal with tariffs from the Trump administration, which is seeking to boost domestic manufacturing. Fellow Swiss drugmaker Novartis earlier this month said it would spend $23 billion in the United States, while Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson also announced sizeable investments recently. The Roche and Novartis announcements gave a boost to Swiss President Karin Keller Sutter, who is set to meet senior U.S. officials in Washington this week to try to reduce a threatened 31 per cent U.S. tariff on Swiss exports. READ MORE 'Our investments have also been aligned with the Swiss government and form part of the ongoing discussions between the U.S. and Switzerland,' a Roche spokesperson said. Chief executive Thomas Schinecker said the investment underscored Roche's commitment to the United States, where it employs 25,000 people across 24 sites. Of the 12,000 new positions, nearly 6,500 will be in construction and 1,000 at new and expanded facilities, the Swiss pharma giant said. Once capacity comes online at the various facilities, Roche will export more medicines from the United States than it imports, the Basel company said. The United States is a crucial market for Roche, which generated nearly 48 per cent of its sales there in 2024, thanks to blockbuster drugs like asthma and food allergy treatment Xolair and Ocrevus for multiple sclerosis. Roche will expand its manufacturing and distribution centres in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey and California, although some of the projects have been previously announced. New schemes unveiled on Tuesday included a factory to make weight loss medicines, with the location yet to be announced, and a new plant for continuous glucose monitoring in Indiana. 'Our investments of $50 billion over the next five years will lay the foundation for our next era of innovation and growth, benefiting patients in the U.S. and around the world,' Schinecker said in a statement. The executive did not mention the threat of looming tariffs, although Roche has analysed potential charges in recent weeks and was 'well prepared to navigate them, apply mitigation measures, and adapt,' a spokesperson said. Roche said there were no plans to cut back on its investments in the rest of world, saying it would provide more details of its investment strategy over the next few weeks. Last week, the Trump administration launched a probe into pharmaceuticals imports, as part of a bid to impose tariffs on the sector. The timing and extent of the levies remain uncertain but the impact could be big, with close to $213 billion in pharmaceutical products imported to the U.S. last year, nearly triple 2014's $73 billion, according to the United Nations trade database. – Reuters
