title: Coverage inequalities of new therapies for rheumatoid arthritis in a managed care setting.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive disease that leads to functional disability and substantial medical costs. Early treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has been shown to inhibit the progression of RA, with accompanying improvements in functional outcome and long-term medical costs. Biologic response modifiers (BRMs) are a new class of therapeutic agents for RA that offer a more favorable side-effect profile than traditional DMARDs. One BRM, the self-injectable medication etanercept, has demonstrated great potential for improving the long-term prognosis of patients with RA. Unfortunately, patients' access to treatment with etanercept is sometimes limited because of the structure of health-care coverage for self-injectable drugs.
authors.affiliation: Elizabethgallup@Radiantresearch.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallup
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D000069285:Infliximab; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012646:Self Administration; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept