Big news for our arthritis community in Kentucky! On April 13, 2016, Gov. Matt Bevin (R – KY) signed Senate Bill 134 into law. The law creates a pathway for the introduction and use of biosimilars into the mainstream marketplace. Biosimilar medications have the potential to provide safe and effective treatment to people with arthritis at a potentially lower cost than name-brand biologic medications.
The many letters, calls and visits made by Arthritis Foundation Advocates in Kentucky played a significant role in the passage of SB 134.
Biologics are carefully engineered and can never truly be duplicated. This means that even biosimilars deemed interchangeable are not generic replicas of original biologics. Nationwide, states are now enacting legislation to create a pathway for biosimilars because current laws on generic substitution do not have jurisdiction on biosimilars. Because both biologics and biosimilars are complex treatments requiring careful oversight, any changes or substitutions require communication and transparency in all pharmacy transactions. The final bill language requires that the provider’s office be notified when there is a substitution.
“参加我的第一次KY倡导和访问日，在个人层面上与积极参与该法案及其最终通过的关键立法者联系是令人温暖的。能够与他们交流，不仅代表了我的担忧，而且尤其代表了我们所代表的许多关节炎患者的担忧，是我们最终取得成功的关键，”关节炎基金会的倡导者比尔·古利特说。“我们能够解释提供者通知的重要性，因为这只是在个体患者水平上使用生物药物和生物仿制药时微妙平衡的关键组成部分之一。”
I’m fighting with flares,which we cannot get under control,have been fighting since flu shot in Oct 2014,both hands,could not dress,hold cup,eat with a fork,pull the covers over self, both hands,neck and both sides of chest and in my upper back, and now am just very fagitured, every thing I do is a effort,even going to coffee with friends.and of course depression is very high,I can not get myself in a good spot,we are on another new drug,I have been on everything out their on another one,my dr said their are a couple new ones coming out. I feel very alone. At this point,and things like I’m not a child,I donot have kids at home,and ect are not working for me at this point, will after start using a feel good drug