Committed to Helping You Get Your Genentech Medicine

Knowing what to expect can make all the difference. We can help you through each step of getting your Genentech medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

About LUCENTIS Access Solutions

LUCENTIS Access Solutions is a resource for people who take a Genentech medicine. We connect you to the medicine you need.

I Am Concerned About Paying for LUCENTIS

There may be options to help you get the Genentech medicine your doctor has prescribed. LUCENTIS Access Solutions can refer you to patient assistance options.

We have changed the name of GATCF to the Genentech Patient Foundation. We made this change to show our commitment to helping patients and to make it easier to remember.

Getting My Medicine

You might not be able to get your Genentech medicine right away. First, your doctor’s office or specialty pharmacy will have to check to make sure your health insurance plan covers your medicine. This is called a “benefits investigation.” They also might have to send some more information before your plan covers your medicine. This is called a “prior authorization.”

Enrolling in LUCENTIS Access Solutions

  1. You fill out a form called the PAN.
  2. Your doctor fills out a form called the SMN. You do not have to fill out anything on this form.
  3. Your doctor sends both of these forms to LUCENTIS Access Solutions.

There are 2 ways to fill out the PAN form:

  • You can fill out the form online 
  • You can download and print it to fill out a paper copy

The PAN form lets us discuss your health information with your doctor and your health insurance plan. We can’t work with you without a signed PAN.

You do not need to do anything else, but your doctor does. He or she needs to submit a form called the SMN. The SMN tells us your doctor wants to treat you with LUCENTIS. Make sure your doctor has sent us the SMN so you get help from us.

You do not need to fill out anything on the SMN form.

My Health Plan Denied Coverage for LUCENTIS

If your health insurance plan will not cover your Genentech medicine, you and your doctor’s office can file an appeal. Contact your doctor to ask if you should file an appeal.

We have resources to help you and your doctor file an appeal.

We have resources to help you and your doctor file an appeal. You or your doctor’s office has to file the appeal directly with your health insurance plan.

This depends on your health insurance plan. You should ask your plan directly about its process. Sometimes the appeals process is quick. However, it can take several months if you have to appeal several times.

My Insurance Might Change

If your insurance changes while you’re taking your Genentech medicine, call us. We can help you understand your new coverage.

The Genentech Patient Foundation gives free Genentech medicine to people who don't have insurance coverage or who have financial concerns and to people who meet certain income criteria.

It is your and your doctor's responsibility to complete and submit all required paperwork to your health insurance plan. Genentech cannot guarantee your plan will cover any treatments.

PAN=Patient Authorization and Notice of Request for Transmission of Health Information to Genentech Access Solutions and Genentech® Access to Care Foundation.

SMN=Statement of Medical Necessity.

Important Safety Information & Indication

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What it Treats

Who is LUCENTIS for?

LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab injection) is a prescription medicine for the treatment of patients with:

  • wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD)
  • macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
  • diabetic macular edema (DME)
  • diabetic retinopathy (DR)
  • myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV)

Important Safety Information

What important safety information should I know about LUCENTIS?

You should not use LUCENTIS if you have an infection in or around the eye or are allergic to LUCENTIS or any of its ingredients. LUCENTIS is a prescription medication given by injection into the eye, and it has side effects. Some LUCENTIS patients have had detached retinas and serious eye infections. If your eye becomes red, sensitive to light, or painful, or if you have a change in vision, call or visit your eye doctor immediately. Some LUCENTIS patients have had increased eye pressure before and within 1 hour of an injection. Uncommonly, LUCENTIS patients have had serious, sometimes fatal, problems related to blood clots, such as heart attacks or strokes. Fatal events were seen more often in patients with DME and DR with LUCENTIS compared with patients who did not receive Lucentis. Although there were only few fatal events which included causes of death typical of patients with advanced diabetic complications, these events may be caused by Lucentis.

Some LUCENTIS patients have serious side effects related to the injection. These include serious infections inside the eye, detached retinas, and cataracts. The most common eye-related side effects are increased redness in the white of the eye, eye pain, small specks in vision, and increased eye pressure. The most common non–eye-related side effects are nose and throat infections, anemia, nausea and cough. Ask your doctor if you have questions or want more information.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

For additional safety information, please talk to your doctor and see the LUCENTIS full prescribing information.