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Insurance Coverage
"Mr./Mrs. <name> has been under my care since <date> and suffers from generalized vitiligo over <parts of the body>, which is now greater than <...%> of his/her body surface area. The patient has a history active vitiligo, which requires immediate treatment to limit further progression of the disease and prevent appearance of new lesions.
Topical and oral medications have been tried first, including <drug name> for <duration period> with no effect.
The patient has also been treated with ultraviolet lights type B (UVB) in our clinic and has shown significant improvement. As vitiligo is usually a life-long condition that requires scheduled follow-up with a low-dose maintenance therapy to minimize risk of relapse, my patient will most likely require UV light treatment for indefinite use. An FDA approved home-based UV light device would be effective for the patient’s condition.
The home UV light unit would be of lower cost than the same treatment at a clinic as vitiligo is a chronic condition generally requiring a minimum of 130 treatments over just the next 12 months. The results of home-based UV therapy are comparable to a clinic-based therapy with a lesser socio-economic burden to a patient. Each in-clinic visit will cost approximately <e.g. $85.00> yielding a minimum yearly treatment cost of more than <e.g. $11,000> whereas a one-time cost of a home UV unit is only <$...>.
Therefore, I am recommending <brand name, model> with Narrowband UVB lamps due to its ease of use, effectiveness and relative safety - derived from the device’s control of maximum exposure time coupled with its physician controlled timer where I can guide the patient’s use through periodic visits in my office. I feel my patient is capable of operating the home UV unit and staying within prescribed exposure times."
FAQOther Questions
- Will it spread?
Vitiligo's progression and response to treatment can vary significantly among individuals, making it a particularly unpredictable skin condition. Based on the VALIANT study, her...
- Which is better for judging vitiligo — Wood’s lamp or dermoscopy?
A recent study out of India compared the two head-to-head. Both tools correlated fairly well with clinical criteria, but dermoscopy had a slight edge: Wood’s lamp: sensitivit...
- What causes vitiligo?
Surprisingly, the causes of vitiligo are yet to be precisely established. Researchers know the cause is pre-wired in your genes, just waiting for a bad luck moment. In about hal...
Though it is not always easy to treat vitiligo, there is much to be gained by clearly understanding the diagnosis, the future implications, treatment options and their outcomes.
Many people deal with vitiligo while remaining in the public eye, maintaining a positive outlook, and having a successful career.
Copyright (C) Bodolóczki JúliaBy taking a little time to fill in the anonymous questionnaire, you can help researchers better understand and fight vitiligo.