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Hospital Circular 24/1998
Date Issued:
16 December, 1998
Publication: 24/1998
Contact: Robyn Rennick
Distribution: Public and Private Hospitals
Subject:Highly Specialised
Drugs Program
Purpose:
The
purpose of this circular is to advise hospitals involved with the Highly
Specialised Drugs Program of a number of changes to the Program.
We have had recent advice from the Commonwealth on a number changes concerning drugs on the Highly Specialised Drugs Program. Details of the changes are set out below.
1. New Drugs on Program
Doxorubicin hydrochloride peglated liposomal (Caelyx)
| Code | Pack size | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6294X | Suspension for I.V. infusion 20mg in 10ml vial | 1 | $522.72 |
Indication:
Treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma in patients with CD4 cell counts of less than 200 per mm3 and extensive mucocutaneous or visceral involvement.
Effective Subsidy Date: 1 January, 1999
Stavudine
| 6250Y | Powder for oral solution 1mg per ml, 200mg | 1 | $55.56 |
Indication:
Treatment of HIV infection in patients with CD4 cell counts of less than 500 per mm3, or viral load of greater than 10,000 copies per mL.
Effective Subsidy Date: 1 January, 1999
2. Changes to Indications
DORNASE ALPHA
The requirement
to provide the additional reporting for dornase alpha is no longer applicable,
so the following information is no longer required:
- Number of patients who commenced in a 4 week trial within quarter
- Number of patients who qualified for ongoing therapy within quarter
- Number of patients receiving ongoing therapy at end of quarter
Please Note: the price for Dornase alpha has decreased as follows
Dornase alpha
Soln. for inhalation, 2.5mg/ml Pack size:30 Price: $1110.00
Effective Subsidy Date: 1 January, 1999
FILGRASTIM (Neupogen)
Change to indication: These criteria now specify in more detail the action of Filgrastim and extend the incation to include treatment of patients undergoing myeloablative as well as myelosuppressive therapy. The revised indication will now specify Filgrastim’s use for:
Mobilisation of peripheral blood progenitor cells to facilitate harvest of such cells for reinfusion into patients with non-myeloid malignancies who have had myeloablative or myelosuppressive therapy.
Effective Subsidy Date: 1 January 1999
LENOGRASTIM (Granocyte)
Change to indication: Addition of patients with non-myeloid malignancies receiving peripheral blood progenitor cells following marrow ablative chemotherapy. The revised indication will read:
For use in patients with non-myeloid malignancies receiving marrow ablative chemotherapy and subsequent peripheral blood progenitor cell or bone marrow transplantation.
3 ADDITIONS TO INDICATIONS
LENOGRASTIM (Granocyte)
Addition to indication: The following has been added to the list of indications:
Mobilisation of peripheral blood progenitor cells to facilitate harvest of such cells for reinfusion into patients with non-myeloid malignancies who have had myeloablative or myelosuppressive therapy
Effective Subsidy Date: 1 January 1999
OCTREOTIDE (Sandostatin)
Addition to indication: The following has been added to the list of indications:
9.29.3 Patients with a histologically-confirmed diagnosis of a functional carcinoid tumour or vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting tumour (VIPoma) experiencing on average over one a week, three or more episodes per day of diarrhoea and /or flushing, which persists despite the use of anti-histamines, anti-serotonin agents and anti-diarrhoea agents, and for whom surgery or anti neoplastic therapy has failed or is inappropriate.
Treatment should cease if there is failure to produce a clinically significant reduction in the frequency and severity of symptoms after two months’ therapy. Dosage and tolerance to the drug should be assessed regularly and the dosage should be titrated slowly downwards to determine the minimum effective dose.
PRIVATE HOSPITALS:
Please Note: There is now an additional indication for Disodium Pamidronate. The following has been included:
Multiple myeloma; bone metastases from breast cancer
4 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RIBAVIRIN
In relation to Circular No.18/1998 dated 30 September,1998 the TGA inclusion criteria for Ribavirin use have been amended to include:
adult male or female,18 to 65 years of age non-responder or relapsed CHC patients following an initial course of interferon therapy, or those not previously treated with interferon (ie naïve patients)
Please note to be subsidised through the highly specialised drugs program, patients using Ribavirin in combination with Interferon Alpha must fit the TGA inclusion criteria for both drugs.
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Note
1: Please note that certified statements of Hospital Audits
1997/98 for the HSD Program were due by 30 September 1998.
There are a number of hospitals who have not yet submitted
these. Could you please ensure that this is done immediately
to secure your continued access to the program.
Please send Audit Certifications to: Jane Evans or Robyn Rennick, Acute Health, Level 17, Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3095. If you have any questions please phone Robyn on 9616 8673. |
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Note 2: Please ensure that the most current claim form is used when submitting claims. Additional claim forms for Interferon Alpha 2B and Filgrastim are attached. |
Updates to the relevant pages in Appendices 2, 3 and 8 of the Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program Guidelines, August 1997 can be found on the internet either through the Department of Human Services Home page (Acute Health), or directly on Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program Guidelines. Any changes notified by hospital circular will be immediately updated in the Guidelines on the internet.
DR C W
BROOK
DIRECTOR
ACUTE HEALTH
