Docs back anemia meds with new advice

The tug-of-war over anemia drugs rages on. Now, cancer specialists say there's no clinical data to support Medicare's restrictions on the drugs, made by Amgen and Johnson & Johnson.

The American Society of Clinical Oncologists and the American Society of Hematology have banded together to issue their own recommendations for use of Aranesp, Epogen, and Procrit. Based on a three-year review of clinical trials, the recommendations warn of heart risks but advise that patients can safely use higher doses than Medicare now will pay for.

Meanwhile, Sen. Max Baucus of Montana says he'll introduce a resolution to nullify Medicare's new reimbursement policies limiting the anemia drugs.

- take a look at the announcement from ASCO
- here's the Los Angeles Times article

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