The other day, I received a phone call from a patient asking for help with an appeal. When she explained her situation, my heart sank. Her physician had prescribed intravenous immune globulin for off-label use, and the insurance company had denied it based on the grounds that its use for the condition is "experimental." [More]

No one can argue that immune globulin (IG) therapy is a game-changer for people who require this life-saving treatment. Unfortunately, it comes at a price, often in the form of side effects. Fortunately, when side effects occur, reactions are typically mild to moderate. And, while serious side effects can occur, they are rare. [More]

I don't know about you, but I always feel guilty when I do something nice for myself. I feel like time and money would be better spent on my kids or family. That somehow taking care of me was selfish. And, this guilt frequently meant I didn't take time for myself. [More]

I am as ready as the next person is for life to return to normal. I have found myself resenting the need to wear a mask, to not be able to go to movies and to not be able to travel. In fact, to be honest, I have become lax about taking precautions against COVID. [More]

Most people assume their medical records are safe in the hands of their doctors, hospitals and pharmacies. But, frequently this isn't the case, particularly for patients with chronic illness. Often, these patients have complicated medical histories with medical records that date back years and span many different medical facilities, specialty pharmacies and, frequently, numerous physicians. [More]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't wait to travel again. I haven't been anywhere in more than a year now. What's worse is my husband bought us a prepaid trip in 2019 for our anniversary in 2020 that we had to postpone indefinitely. [More]

Rare Disease Day is the official international awareness-raising campaign for rare diseases that takes place on the last day of February each year. The main objective of the campaign is to raise awareness among the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. [More]

Taking care of someone you love is an honor, but it's also a serious undertaking. Whether you're a caregiver by calling or circumstance, the work of keeping someone else well and comfortable will take a lot out of you. It's important to find ways to recharge your batteries when you're taking on this role. [More]