Aetna to move HIV drugs to lower cost-sharing tiers

Aetna Inc. (NYSE:AET) said its CoventryOne unit will move most HIV drugs in its Florida formulary from the specialty tier to generic or non-preferred brand tiers, effective June 1.

Last May, the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) and the AIDS Institute filed a complaint with HHS's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) alleging that CoventryOne, Cigna Corp. (NYSE:CI), Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) and Preferred Medical Plan Inc. (Coral Gables, Fla.) were discriminating against HIV/AIDS patients in Florida by placing HIV medications in the highest tiers, which generally require higher co-pays or co-insurance, prior authorization requirements and quantity limits. The not-for-profits claimed the insurers were violating federal civil rights laws and anti-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act (see BioCentury Extra, July 8, 2014). ...