HIV/AIDS Patients May Now “Opt-Out” of United Healthcare Mail-Order Rx
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The lawsuit, filed in June of 2013 in federal court in
HIV/AIDS patients expressed serious concerns about a loss of privacy associated with mail order. For example, HIV/AIDS specialty medications often are delivered in refrigerated containers. Patients who live in apartment buildings or have medications delivered to their work place have expressed alarm that neighbors, co-workers, and employers, who do not know that the recipient has HIV/AIDS, would come to suspect that they are seriously ill. Others expressed concern that delayed or stolen mail-order packages would result in serious threats to their health.
Due to the complex nature of HIV/AIDS drug regimens, patients often rely on their community pharmacists who, working directly with patients, monitor potentially life-threatening adverse drug interactions and side effects. Pharmacists also provide essential advice and counseling that help HIV/AIDS patients and families navigate the challenges of living with a chronic and often debilitating condition.
Opt-Out Process
If patients do not want to obtain their HIV/AIDS specialty medications by mail based on privacy or delivery concerns, or if they have difficulty discussing their HIV medications over the phone, they may obtain a permanent exemption from mail-order delivery and obtain their medication from an in-network community pharmacy.
To opt-out of the mail-order requirement, patients may either download and submit the form available at http://tinyurl.com/puf2epr or call 1-866-803-8570. If they call, patients are asked to have their membership number and the name and address of the in-network pharmacy they want to designate to obtain their HIV/AIDS medications.
"This settlement brings to a close a nerve-racking episode for patients with HIV and AIDS who faced serious threats to their privacy and health," said
The list of drugs for which a patient suffering from HIV/AIDS may opt-out of the mail order requirement includes anemia, growth hormone, and neutropenia drugs in addition to drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS. Class members who paid more for their prescriptions as result of the mail-order requirement may also seek reimbursement of their out-of-pocket costs.
"United should be commended for listening to the serious and heartfelt concerns of their customers who depend on local pharmacists for their life-saving medications," said
Download the settlement agreement here: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/settlementagreement3-19-14.pdf
Read more about the settlement here: http://www.unitedhivsettlement.com
Consumer Watchdog is a nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization with offices in
The lawyers of
SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
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