With Medicare Open Enrollment currently underway (October 15th through December 7th) we thought this would be a good time to review some basic facts about Medicare. So if you have chronic lung disease like Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension or Pulmonary Fibrosis, here's what you need to know. What is Medicare? Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and … [Read more...]
How Will I Afford My PAH Medications?
The cost of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension medications is staggering. The least expensive medication (generic sildenafil) costs $50 per month for 90 tablets. If you prefer to have the branded version and you don’t have any insurance expect to pay more than $3,000 per month. Insurance companies are very happy to pay for generic sildenafil but increasingly restrict Adcirca … [Read more...]
Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry (PHAR)
A registry is a recording of patients and their characteristics. The PHAR is the first attempt by the PHA to begin to characterize and keep track of PH patients. This ambitious undertaking hopes to be able to identify best practices for the care of PH patients. As the registry matures we will be able to ask scientific questions and test hypotheses. It represents the first … [Read more...]
Everyone Says I Look Great
How You Look vs. How You Feel with Pulmonary Hypertension You can’t always judge a book by its cover. Some medical problems are obvious and others are not so obvious. One of the challenges of PAH is that for many patients their disease is not evident to the casual observer. My patients are frustrated that their friends and family often comment that they look great even when … [Read more...]
Flu Vaccine in Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension
By Tabitha Moe and Jeremy Feldman As a young adult with congenital heart disease, it is important for you to take responsibility for your own health and well being. Over the years your parents and caregivers may have made decisions for you. As a young adult, you now are in a position to make your own decisions about your health and wellness. We are approaching flu season, … [Read more...]
