GVS advice patiromer (Veltassa®) cancellation List 2 conditions
The Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) has adopted the recommendation of the National Health Care Institute. This means that the additional conditions for the use of patiromer (Veltassa®) will expire on 1 March 2023. This medicine is already included in the Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS) and is therefore reimbursed from the basic health insurance package. It can be used to treat certain patients with hyperkalaemia. This is the medical term for having too much potassium in the blood.
Status: patiromer conditions expire on 1 March 2023
The Minister of VWS has adopted the recommendation of the National Health Care Institute. This means that, as of 1 March 2023, the additional conditions for patiromer will expire.
Condition for which the medicinal product can be applied
Hyperkalaemia means a person has too much potassium in their blood. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue, tingling, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmia. Hyperkalaemia can be caused by kidney damage or the use of certain medicinal products.
Patiromer is currently reimbursed for patients 18 years or older with chronic kidney damage CKD stage 3 or 4 with chronic hyperkalaemia who require treatment with RAAS inhibitors. The marketing authorisation holder now requests that the current List 2 condition be cancelled.
If the reimbursement condition expires, patiromer can be used for all patients with hyperkalaemia, regardless of the underlying condition.
Recommendations from the National Health Care Institute
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of VWS to remove the List 2 condition for patiromer.
Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS)
Patiromer is an outpatient medicinal product. Outpatient medicinal products are medicinal products for home use available at the pharmacy on prescription from a physician. They are only reimbursed from the basic health care package if they are listed in the GVS. Patiromer is listed on List 1A of the GVS.
For more information on the GVS and the Lists 1A, 1B and 2, see page ‘Reimbursement of outpatient medicinal products (GVS)’.
The Scientific Advisory Board (WAR) advises the National Health Care Institute on the assessment. Based on the assessment, the National Health Care Institute sends an advisory report to the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medication from the basic health care package.