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Welcome to MyelomaLinks,
your monthly source of myeloma news,
research updates, clinical trials
and events of The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society (LLS). For even more information,
regularly visit our Patient
Services and Disease
Information Web
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LLS
Features
::READ
MORE::
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Research
Roundup ::READ
MORE::
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IRC Question of
the Month
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MORE::
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Inspirational
Stories
 Learn
how individuals touched by blood cancer
cope. LLS's LifeMosaic
Web feature offers hundreds of
inspiring stories by patients and families. Read
them or submit
your own.
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Here to
Help
For even more information, regularly
visit the LLS Web site, www.LLS.org, where many of our education programs
are archived free of charge for convenient
access 24/7.
If you haven't found what
you're looking for in MyelomaLinks ,
please call our Information Resource Center
(IRC) to speak with trained information
specialists. IRC staff are available Monday
through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, toll free
at (800) 955-4572; email infocenter@lls.org; or click the "Live Patient Help" button
on the www.LLS.org homepage.
In this new
year, please consider a tax-deductible gift to
LLS. Donate
online today and help us make
a difference in the lives of patients and their
families. | |
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Commentary
Learn
about new techniques for stem cell
transplants.
Clinical Trials
We invite you to
use our LLS-supported
TrialCheck® Web site
, a clinical trial search service that
offers patients and caregivers immediate access
to listings of all myeloma clinical trials.
Answer just a few simple questions and a list of
available clinical trials related to your cancer
will appear in an easy-to-read list of search
results.
You may also want to
visit the National Cancer Institute's Cancer
Trials Support Unit, providing resources
and information on Phase III cancer treatment
trials supported by the National Cancer
Institute. ::SELECTED TRIALS::
Newsfeeds &
Podcasts
Now
you can get RSS Feeds and Podcasts from LLS.
:: CLICK HERE TO SIGN
UP::
Free
eNewsletters
Free LLS
eNewsletters deliver the latest information on
research and treatment options, patient services
programs and fundraising events.
::CLICK HERE TO SIGN
UP::
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Medicare
Covers More Off-Label Uses of Cancer Drugs
Medicare has expanded its coverage of drugs
for cancer treatments not approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration. Cancer doctors had
clamored for the changes, saying that some of
these treatments, known as off-label uses, were
essential if patients were to receive the most
up-to-date care. Others disagree. Read more.
Cancer
Survivors Often Forgo Needed Care Due to Cost
Concerns
Even
with health insurance, more than 1 million
cancer survivors living in the United States
report that they forgo needed medical care
because of concerns about cost, according to new
research.
Booklet
Helps Cancer Patients Navigate Costly
Care
The American Society of
Clinical Oncology has released a guide to help
cancer patients and their doctors communicate
more effectively about the costs associated with
their treatment and
care.
> Back to the
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My
Personal Clinical Trials
Journey
Participate in this personalized
and interactive program that follows the stories
and experiences of three cancer survivors
who have participated in clinical
trials.
Co-Pay
Assistance Program
Patients with
myeloma who have difficulty paying for or
simply cannot afford their prescription drug
co-pays or health insurance premiums can now
apply for up to $5,000 in assistance from
LLS.
Archived Educational
Events
Experience
archived teleconferences and Webcasts free of
charge, anytime. Also, a short, easy-to-read summary of
the recent program Milestones in Myeloma
Therapy: An Update from the American Society of
Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting has been
added to the LLS Web
site.
LLS
Blog
Celebrate our
blog's first
birthday.
Two New Promotions
Support LLS's Mission
- Gap Inc's nationwide Give &
Get Program (March 12-15, 2009) will
benefit you with a special 30-percent
discount coupon good at all Gap, Old Navy and
Banana Republic stores. Five percent of all
net sales go to LLS. Click here for details.
- You can now have an LLS- or
TNT-branded VISA credit card, personalized
with any image you choose. LLS will receive
$50 for each card used plus a percentage of all
purchases. There's still time to receive your
card and use it with the Gap Give & Get
Program. Click
here for details.
LLS Advocacy
LLS's
advocacy team represents the needs of cancer
patients and their families in Washington,
DC and state capitals throughout the United
States. We need your help. Join our Advocates
Network and make your voice
heard.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society is committed to curing blood cancers and
helping patients and their families. Learn
the many ways you can help advance
LLS's mission.
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Therapy insight:
management of cardiovascular disease in patients
with cancer and cardiac complications of cancer
therapy ::READ MORE::
Thalidomide-dexamethasone
compared to melphalan-prednisolone in elderly
patients with multiple myeloma ::READ MORE::
High response rate to
bortezomib with or without dexamethasone in
patients with relapsed or refractory multiple
myeloma: results of a global Phase IIIb expanded
access program ::READ MORE::
Lenalidomide plus
dexamethasone is more effective than
dexamethasone alone in patients with relapsed or
refractory multiple myeloma regardless of prior
thalidomide exposure ::READ MORE::
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Selected
Trials
Internet-Based
Program with or without Telephone-Based
Problem-Solving Training in Helping Long-Term
Survivors of Stem Cell Transplant Cope with Late
Complications ::READ MORE::
PhaseII: Busulfan and
Fludarabine Followed by Post-Transplant
Cyclophosphamide ::READ MORE::
Phase II Study of
Thalidomide, Clarithromycin, Lenalidomide and
Dexamethasone for Newly Diagnosed Multiple
Myeloma ::READ MORE::
Phase III:
Zoledronate with or without Thalidomide in
Treating Patients with Early Stage Multiple
Myeloma ::READ MORE::
A Study of Sativex
for Pain Relief in Patients with Advanced
Malignancy ::READ MORE::
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IRC Question of
the Month
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Q: My health plan does
not cover some of the drugs and tests my
physician ordered to treat my myeloma. What can
I do?
A: If your
health plan denies a claim for treatment that
your physician thinks is medically necessary
there are a number of things you can do.
- Submit claims for all medical
expenses even if you are not sure they are
covered. Submit your bills as you receive them.
- Contact your health plan and
request a copy of your plan's coverage and
appeal process in writing. When you make the
call, get the name of the person you speak to
and take the opportunity to establish an ongoing
contact with a case manager with whom you can
discuss any future issues that may
arise.
- Start and maintain a file of
all claims, claims-related documents and
letters. In your file, keep a log of all calls
related to your health claims reimbursement.
Include the name of the person you spoke to and
the dates of all telephone calls you make or
receive.
- If you have submitted a claim
that was denied, re-submit the claim with a copy
of your denial letter. Ask your physician to
write a statement explaining the treatment or
services, the reason this treatment is medically
necessary for you and how you will benefit. Your
physician can also submit relevant peer-reviewed
medical journal articles to document that the
treatment is effective and necessary for your
care.
These steps may resolve the
claim. If not, you can submit the claim again
and request a peer review. This provides the
opportunity for your physician to discuss the
treatment in detail with other physicians in the
medical specialty. In
the meantime, get help from your physician's
office, your clinic or hospital to arrange to
delay payment until your claim is resolved.
You can request help from the
consumer services division of your state
insurance department or commission and/or
consider legal action if the claim is still not
resolved.
Here are more resources to help
you:
- LLS encourages you to
contact our Information Resource Center at (800)
955-4572 or email
us with any additional
questions.
- LLS also provides supplementary
financial assistance to patients in financial
need. We offer $500 per year toward
treatment-related expenses not covered by
insurance (including tests, blood transfusions,
chemotherapy, drugs, radiation therapy) and
transportation to and from treatment. For more
information about the Patient Financial
Aid Program, click
here.
- Listen to the audio
program Practical
Tips for Managing Your Financial & Insurance
Issues.
- Order the free booklet Financial
Health Matters and click
here for a printable guide of
questions to ask about denial of
coverage.
- The Medicare
Rights Center can help people
to navigate the Medicare system. Counselors
at
(800) 333-4114 answer questions about
insurance options, Medicare rights and
protections, payment denials, appeals,
complaints about care or treatment and Medicare
bills.
- The Patient
Advocate Foundation (PAF) provides free
services to help with Medicaid, disability,
managed care, health insurance, medical debt and
employment discrimination issues. PAF offers
free legal assistance, in accordance with their
guidelines, to help people obtain benefits from
their insurance companies. You can contact PAF
at (800) 532-5274.
- Finally, the Cancer
Legal Resource Center provides free
information and resources about cancer-related
legal issues. The center has a free telephone
assistance line at (866)
843-2572.
Please call our
Information Resource Center (IRC) to speak with
a trained information specialist. IRC staff are
available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6
p.m. ET, toll free at (800) 955-4572. Contact
us online or click the "Live
Patient Help" button on the www.LLS.org
homepage.
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unrestricted
educational grant
from
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Contact Us: The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck
Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, (800)
955-4572
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