7% Saline Prescription and Medicare Part B payment quandry

I have not tried it…

I used GoodRx at Walgreens one time and they keep it on file. I pay $10.00 for 60 4ml 7% Sodium Chloride. My Medicare did not want to pay for the 7%.

I'm glad GoodRx works for you and you no longer have to fight with your insurer. But your Medicare, and mine, and everyone else's is governed by the same set of rules, which says with the proper diagnostic codes and a prescribed nebulizer, Medicare Part B pays for 7% saline. Your Advantage or supplement company does not get to say no.

This issue and many others are seriously affecting the health care of many Medicare subscribers who are not savvy enough to find tools like GoodRx, and therefore go without necessary medications. That is why I posted the actual link to the Medicare regs.
Sue

Is anyone else having difficulty finding sodium chloride 7% vials for nebulizing? I got my last box at Walgreens and they tell me they are no longer able to get it from their supplier. They suggested transferring the Rx, which I just did (to CVS). CVS said they were unsure if they can order it, but would need the Rx in order to try. Please let me know which chain store pharmacies you have been able to get it from. By the way, I have given up trying to get it covered by Medicare, but the GoodRx prices at some pharmacies are quite reasonable. Thank you yet again for your help! Donna

You might try calling your nearest hospital pharmacy. They were my go-to when it was in short supply.
Sue

I have struggled with MAC and bronchiectasis on and off for over 25 years, and have gone through 2 extended cycles of the 3-drug protocol. Slightly different each time. I'm not sure I am completely MAC-bacteria free now, but I have been without the worst of the symptoms for a few years now. My pulmonologist has me on a twice per day nebulizer protocol of Albuterol and 7% saline. When this started several years ago, Medicare Part B (not Part D drug coverage) was covering the Albuterol and 7% saline with small copays. A couple of years ago they started refusing to cover the 7% saline, saying it was not a Medicare-approved treatment. My pulmonologist and several pharmacists have appealed to Medicare that this is a standard treatment for bronchiectasis, but were not able to convince them it should be covered. I have been getting one-month supply of the 7% saline (4 ml x 60 vials) at Walgreens for $10.28 using a GoodRX coupon. But just this week, Walgreens, and CVS, have told me the 7% saline 4 ml x 60 vials is "on backorder" and no availability date is given. I am at wits end about this. I just learned about availability via Amazon, though that is 50 packets for about $35, a huge increase. Any suggestions where to turn appreciated. (FYI: I am a 74 y.o. male). Thanks for listening.

I would love to know who you are to buy direct from. Thank you.

It will cost about the same as Amazon at the link I sent you privately. I think it is as I remember $32 plus shipping and you have to order 3 months worth to get the cheap shipping of $12...so the cost for 3% is about $36.00. (that is 60 vials) or #32. plus 12 if you only order 1 month. IT comes fast via fedex. Try a different Walgreens about 50 or so miles from your location. That's where I got it this month (about 35 miles away) and they are fedexing it for free. (3%). My local Walgreens is always "out of stock". My advice is first to call around at a distance first.

I live in Louisiana and have Humana Medicare Advantage. I pay $2,80 for a 30 day supply.

We really need to petition our law makers for Medicare part B to pay for the sodium chloride. If it doesn't have a drug included, they will not pay. However, Medicare is suppose to pay for all chronic lung medications, but they don't consider the sodium chloride as a medication. Can you get it without a prescription? If not, I consider it as a medication in my head. Confusing and plenty of expense annually.