Medical Marijuana Unlikely to Be Covered in Health Plans

Medical Marijuana Unlikely to Be Covered in Health Plans
October 21, 2009

News Summary

Medical marijuana and healthcare reform are both hot topics, but the odds are against medical-marijuana users getting reimbursed by their health plans for purchases of the drug.

The Associated Press reported Oct. 20 that while the federal government has eased off enforcement of drug laws against medical-marijuana users, the group America's Health Insurance Plans is not aware of any health plans that cover medical marijuana.

Experts say that the biggest roadblock to coverage is the fact that medical use of marijuana is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And the FDA is unlikely to approve marijuana because it is not a synthesized drug, and is hard to assess because its composition can vary greatly. Dosage size also would have to be standardized in order for FDA to approve the drug.

Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project said there has been little action taken to get the drug approved by the FDA or covered by health plans. "Right now we're still focused on the legal issues," he said.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by maxwood on 22 Oct 09 09:25 PM EDT

The next step would be for someone to provide a reliably-strengthed "tincture" i.e. cannabinoid formula for use in e-cigarette cartridges. Prescribing physician could specify how many tokes are needed. Unfortunately the latest I heard, the NIDA provides 900-mg. ditchweed "cigarettes" to its select list of licensed patients, i.e. a carbon monoxide cocktail, almost as though they wanted to exhibit contempt for the medicine itself.

Posted by Brinna Nanda on 23 Oct 09 05:34 AM EDT

With legalization, the cost of the plant should drop dramatically. Whether it would eventually be covered by health insurance would therefore be a moot point. Also, regulation would lead to increased research and testing. Standardized dosage and strain development emphasizing different mixes of cannabinoids would necessarily follow (i.e. CBG v. THC v. CBD, etc.) Theoretically, an insurer would want a client to use a substance that has preventative properties such as cannabis does (as least, according to the US Dept of HHS patent #6.630,507). Since a recent study also shows that chronic, long term use of cannabis reduces the risk of neck, head and throat squamous cell carcinoma, one would surmise that such use would be encouraged by insurers in the same way that some encourage exercise, and a healthy diet.

Posted by BfromB1P on 23 Oct 09 12:13 PM EDT

Insurance companies reimbursing patient and caregivers...!? I don't think to that extent, that is even what is wanted. Remember the mess we are in (economically) is because of such silly things and money mismanagement. We must exercise responsibility. I agree with Bruce, LETS FOCUS on the legal issues 1st and just get patients who do use to be fully accepted. Head way is being made now on a federal level! LETS NOT PUSH OUR LUCK. I will be happy when my father can explore his options with-out fear of loosing his benefits, coverage and rights he so deservingly has.

Posted by John from Oceanside on 26 Oct 09 11:47 AM EDT

There is a drug that is made from the marijuana plant in the third round of FDA trials now, but the so called weed patients won't use it because it doesn't get you high after about a weeks use. It's called Sativex. It's oked in Canada and about to be in England.

Posted by Pat on 02 Nov 09 06:43 AM EST

When does it ever end? Now, our insurance premiums may go up because I have to pay for people to take marijuana that has been prescribed by some doctor? I have never seen the public so interested in the past regarding approval of an analgesic.

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