Providing Timely Solutions

When you contact the Reimbursement Connection®, you can access a variety of reimbursement services for Amgen products.

Specialized service
Speak to a reimbursement expert who specializes in the insurance policies of your region.

Payor policy research and information
Have our reimbursement experts research payor coverage, coding, and reimbursement policies.

Insurance verification assistance
Let us assist you in verifying your patients' benefits and identifying insurer coverage guidelines.

Prior authorization assistance
Allow us to research your patients' prior authorization requirements, help you obtain prior authorization, and remind you when the next prior authorizations are needed.

Claim review and reconciliation
Help you track the progress of your claims and, when needed, work with the insurer to identify the reason(s) for denied or underpaid claims and necessary actions to resolve the problem.

Coordination of benefits
Coordinate primary and secondary coverage for collection of co-payments or co-insurance.

Alternative sources of payment
Ask us to help identify alternative coverage sources for Amgen products -- Non-Profit Co-Payment Assistance Programs

Support Programs
Let us provide information on the SAFETY NET® Foundation for medically indigent patients.

The Reimbursement Connection® provides solutions and reduces the time you spend on reimbursement issues. With patient consent, our staff can provide help in:



Identifying steps for smooth claim processing

Provider Reimbursement Connection® Staff
Provider calls
1-800-272-9376
to determine if a patient is covered for an Amgen product.
  • With appropriate patient authorization takes patient, provider, and insurer information
  • Reviews insurer's written policies
  • Contacts insurer to verify patient's benefits
  • Identifies billing and prior authorization requirements (if applicable)
Provider submits claim and contacts the Reimbursement Connection® if additional assistance is required.
  • Informs caller of research findings and insurer requirements
  • Provides billing materials
  • Offers to track claim progress and assist with prior authorization


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Assisting with resolution of claim delays and denials

Provider Reimbursement Connection® Staff
Provider calls
1-800-272-9376
for assistance with a problem claim.
  • With appropriate patient authorization reviews the claim and EOB for submission errors
  • Reviews insurer policy for insight into problem
  • Contacts the insurer to determine reason(s) for denial or delay
  • Discusses with insurer necessary steps to reconcile claim
Provider submits claim and contacts the Reimbursement Connection® if additional assistance is required.
  • Informs caller of research findings and steps to reconcile claim
  • Provides materials
  • Offers to track claim and follow up with provider


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Verifying insurance coverage and researching funding alternatives

Provider Reimbursement Connection® Staff
Provider calls
1-800-272-9376
to determine if a patient is covered for an Amgen product.
  • With appropriate patient authorization takes patient, provider, and insurer information
  • Contacts insurer to verify patient's benefits
  • Contacts the caller with the insurance status
When insurance coverage is inadequate or not available, the Reimbursement Connection® staff:
  • Case-manages the patient, as each patient's situation is unique
  • Researches an alternate funding database for additional sources of financial assistance through public and private sources
  • Provides contact information for agencies that may be able to assist patient
  • Screens the patient for the SAFETY NET® Foundation
  • Referral to non-profit co-payment assistance programs

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Enrolling patients with medical needs with one call

The SAFETY NET® Foundation provides replacement of Amgen products for medically needy patients who meet its eligibility criteria.

Provider SAFETY NET® Foundation Staff
Provider calls
1-800-272-9376
With appropriate patient authorization SAFETY NET® Foundation staff takes patient information and screens patient for program eligibility over the phone
Provider reviews prefilled enrollment form for accuracy, signs, and returns it to the SAFETY NET® Foundation
SAFETY NET® Foundation staff sends prefilled enrollment form to sponsor for physician's signature, if patient is eligible
Patient Receives Treatment
Sponsor submits product replacement request
SAFETY NET® Foundation staff ship replacement product directly to provider for free product provided to patient
Eligible patients may be enrolled for up to 1 year and may reapply.


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Kepivance® is indicated to decrease the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis in patients with hematologic malignancies receiving myelotoxic therapy requiring hematopoietic stem cell support. The safety and efficacy of Kepivance® have not been established in patients with non-hematologic malignancies.

Important Safety Information

In patients with hematologic malignancies, the most common serious adverse reaction in clinical trials attributed to Kepivance® was skin rash reported in less than 1% of patients. Other serious adverse reactions occurred at a similar rate in patients who received Kepivance® or placebo with the most frequent being fever, gastrointestinal events, and respiratory events. The most commonly reported adverse reactions attributed to Kepivance® were rash, erythema, edema, pruritus, dysesthesia, mouth/tongue thickness/discoloration, and taste alteration.

* Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study (N = 212) in which patients with hematologic malignancies who were undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after myelotoxic therapy received either Kepivance® or placebo.1,2
† Analyses were performed in the overall patient population (patients who did not experience the event were assigned a duration of 0 days), and in a subset of patients who developed Grade 3/4 oral mucositis. Oral assessments were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) oral toxicity scale.2
‡ Mouth and throat soreness (MTS) and functional activity scores were collected with the use of a daily questionnaire and measured using a 5-point scale. MTS was a prespecified endpoint. Other functional activities were planned analyses.2

References

  1. Kepivance® (palifermin) prescribing information, Amgen.
  2. Spielberger R, Stiff P, Bensinger W, et al. Palifermin for oral mucositis after intensive therapy for hematologic cancers. N Engl J Med.2004;351:2590-2598.
  3. Rubenstein EB, Peterson DE, Schubert M, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of cancer therapy-induced oral and gastrointestinal mucositis. Cancer. 2004;100(suppl 9):2026-2046.
  4. Spielberger R, Emmanouilides C, Stiff P, et al. Use of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (palifermin) can reduce severe oral mucositis in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation after radiationbased conditioning. J Support Oncol.2004;2(suppl 2):73-74.

© 2006 Amgen All Rights Reserved. Prescribing Information for Kepivance®