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Article: Congress scrutinizes uses for human growth hormone.(News)
- Article from:
- Internal Medicine News
- Article date:
- March 15, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON -- Congress is taking a tough look at the use of human growth hormone for a wide variety of conditions, which is prompting some concern that payers may react by limiting reimbursement for legitimate purposes.
Insurers are already reluctant to cover scientifically validated uses of HGH, Dr. Richard Hellman, president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, said in an interview. The drug can cost $10,000-$20,000 a year. The continuing use for purposes that have little to no evidence of safety and effectiveness may ultimately endanger patients who genuinely need HGH, said Dr. Hellman, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of ...