Ocrevus and hospitals authorized to give it

[ssusan]

I jumped through a lot of hoops to be able to get it in W. Mass. My MS doctor is in Worcester , an hour and a half away if there are no accidents on the Mass Pike. I get really car sick so hoped to get It closer to home. I had to find a new muero with privedges at a hospital closer.
I found someone willing to do that. Boy am I glad I did that. They stopped doing it at hospital where the MS clinic is because hospital hasn’t been reimbursed yet and are owed a huge amount t of money. Yikes.
There must be a hospital in Boston doing it but ??!!

My local hospital hasn’t been approved yet or hadn’t been as of August when I did this.

I wonder if this is happening in other parts of the country.

[agate]

ssusan, that doesn't sound right at all. My impression of your state--but this was many years ago and yet I have the impression it hasn't changed that much since when it comes to medical institutions--is that it had plenty of hospitals and medical centers, though largely centered in the Boston area, no doubt.

Maybe count on a couple of trips a year to Boston and plan to stay for a day or two in order to spread the travel stress out over time so you'll have time to get over one trip before another one?

[ssusan]

I am all set. I get it at Baystate in Springfield. From looking on line They are giving it at Mass General in Boston. UMass Memorial in Worcester did it briefly. The hospital not being reimbursed is disturbing.

[agate]

It would be nice if you didn't have to get carsick en route. Is there a medicine that might help? Dramamine maybe?

[Virginia]

Ssuan, do you know where they are reimbursed from? I just wonder if it is Medicare or if it is your State's plan. I thought they had their own form of Medicare, but I am not sure. Just inquiring.

[Sunshine]

Ssusan, this is so disheartening.

[ssusan]

Excellent questions

Excellent questions
I have no idea. It was a two minute conversation at the end of my appointment

[Ikoiko]

The MS Center at Beth Israel Deconess Medical Center in Boston administers both Ocrevus and Rituxan.

[agate]

Ikoiko, how nice that you're still here! Welcome back!

[Sunshine]

Yes, nice to see you again!

[ssusan]

That's good. Not sure what's up with UMass Memorial.