BMJ  2007;334:556 (17 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39150.435058.DB

News

Organ transplant recipients may die when insurance for immunosuppressants runs out

Fred Charatan

Florida

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Young transplant recipients who lose their insurance coverage are more likely to stop taking essential anti-rejection drugs, which can increase their risk of organ loss and death, a new study shows (Pediatric Transplantation 2007;11:127-31 doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2006.00639.x).

"Kids with transplanted kidneys who lose their insurance have a nine times greater chance of dying than those who don't," said leading author Mark Schnitzler, associate professor in the departments of internal medicine and community health at St Louis University.

"Immunosuppressive drugs that prevent organ rejection are incredibly expensive; sometimes more than $13 000 (£6700; {euro}9900) a year. Even for families with insurance, the co-payments can be a huge financial burden," he added.

In the United States, Medicare pays for most organ transplants. However, coverage of immunosuppressant drugs ends 36 to 44 months after surgery, or when the patient reaches adulthood. Only about 30% of young adults have health insurance. For people who . . . [Full text of this article]


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