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A message from our partner: Assess your wound care agent options for 2008

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly, October 18, 2007

Wound Care Alert

How to assess your dermatological wound care agent options-

Collagenase SANTYL® Ointment: Currently the Only Enzymatic Debrider Listed on the 2008 Medicare Part D Formulary Reference File

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has communicated that, effective January 1, 2008, all products without an approved FDA application will be removed from the 2008 Formulary Reference File (FRF). This decision affects all drugs that have not been approved through a BLA, NDA or ANDA pathway. Therefore, beginning January 1, 2008, therapeutic options in the Dermatological Wound Care Agent Class will be greatly reduced limiting options on Medicare Part D formularies and potentially placing a considerable burden on you as a healthcare professional.

More specifically, current eligible formulary wound care drugs such as Accuzyme®

Ointment, Accuzyme® SE, Panafil® Ointment and Panafil® SE and other products which contain papain/urea and papain/urea/chlorophyllin complex sodium, are scheduled to be removed from the 2008 Medicare FRF. Beginning January 1, 2008, these affected enzymatic wound care agents will have limited eligibility for reimbursement coverage under the Medicare Part D program.

By contrast, the status of Healthpoint's FDA approved Collagenase SANTYL® Ointment will not be affected by this CMS decision, and will continue to be eligible for reimbursement under the 2008 Medicare Part D benefit. Over 95% of Medicare Part D patients currently have unrestricted formulary access to Collagenase SANTYL® Ointment.

Therefore you may want to consider transitioning patients who depend upon Medicare Part D for their prescription drugs and who are currently being treated with Accuzyme® and Panafil® products, and other products which contain papain/urea and papain/urea chlorophyllin complex sodium, to treatment with Collagenase SANTYL® where clinically appropriate.

The advantages of this action are twofold:

--Enables patients to benefit from the only FDA approved enzymatic debrider available

--Helps ensure continuity of care across treatment settings for Medicare patients

Healthpoint will continue to provide clinical information and support in an effort to minimize any disruption to you and your patients. We look forward to assisting you and continuing to build our valued relationship moving forward.

Survey

Please take a moment to answer this 1-question wound care survey:
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB227286YJPYA

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