This past summer, the FDA approved a new antibody treatment to protect babies from RSV. Now that respiratory illness season has arrived, many patients do not have access to this medication. Sold under brand name Beyfortus, many physicians hailed the preventative medication as a potential game changer for infants. RSV is the number one cause of hospitalizations among babies under 12 months old. Some pediatricians have struggled to order the drug because of its high cost and insurance companies; payment policies. Beyfortus costs about $500 per dose and physicians must purchase the medications before insurance plans will tell them how much they will be reimbursed. Many smaller medical practices cannot afford these prices given the uncertainty around payment.As pediatricians, we’re angry,” said Dr. Lauren Fitzpatrick, medical director of the pediatric unit at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “It feels like we have an opportunity that may be missed.”
Full Story: CBS News