After your doctor prescribes monthly injections of Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension), one of the first questions you will probably have is, "Will my insurance pay for it?" The answer will depend on the details of your individual insurance coverage, but drugs given by a healthcare professional are reimbursable under most plans. To assist you with your questions about health insurance coverage, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the maker of Sandostatin® LAR Depot, sponsors a free hotline staffed by an independent healthcare consulting team.
Call 1-877-LAR-HELP.
How to Use the Hotline
Call toll-free 1-877-LAR-HELP (1-877-527-4357) to be connected to a Sandostatin® LAR Depot reimbursement specialist. Reimbursement specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM EST. If a specialist is unavailable at the time of your call, you will be asked to leave your name and telephone number. All calls are returned within 1 business day.
A reimbursement specialist can help verify the coverage for these insurers:
- Commercial insurance (eg, Blue Cross®/Blue Shield®, Oxford Health Plans® )
- Medicare
- Medicaid
Please have the following information available when you call:
- Your name, address, and best phone number to contact you
- The name, address, and phone number of your insurer
- Your policy number, group number, employer name, and date of birth
- If applicable, the insurer's reason for rejecting claim
- A copy of the claim and the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) form generated from the claim (if applicable)
Please keep in mind that the hotline is not a substitute for independent professional advice or legal assistance; it does not appeal claims for callers and cannot guarantee that your claim will be successful.
Understanding Your Coverage
The extent of most people's healthcare coverage is determined by their employers. Employers negotiate with insurers each year to develop a package of benefits to offer their employees for the coming year. Most employers consider their employees' opinions when negotiating new contracts each year.
Important Safety Information
Carcinoid Syndrome:
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term treatment of the severe diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and for the long-term treatment of the profuse watery diarrhea associated with VIP-secreting tumors in patients in whom initial treatment with immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection has been shown to be effective and tolerated.
Important Safety Information:
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (62%), gastrointestinal disorders (14% to 38%), and injection-site pain (20% to 50%). Hypoglycemia (4%), hyperglycemia (27%), sinus bradycardia (19%), conduction abnormalities (9%), and arrhythmias (3%) have been reported.
The controlled clinical trials that support the marketing clearance for Sandostatin® LAR Depot did not include determination of effect on tumor size or rate of growth. Sandostatin® LAR Depot is not indicated for tumor shrinkage. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Acromegaly
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term maintenance therapy in acromegalic patients who have had an inadequate response to surgery and/or radiotherapy, or for whom surgery and/or radiotherapy is not an option. The goal of treatment in acromegaly is to reduce GH and IGF-1 levels to normal.
Important Safety Information:
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (52%), gastrointestinal disorders (7% to 36%), and injection-site pain (2% to 11%). Hypoglycemia (2%), hyperglycemia (15%), and hypothyroidism (2%) have been reported. While not measured in acromegalic patients receiving Sandostatin® LAR Depot, ECG changes have been reported in patients receiving immediate release Sandostatin® Injection; the degree to which these abnormalities are related to octreotide acetate is not clear, as many acromegalics have cardiovascular disease. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
