The Body: Investigation of Humana’s Discriminatory HIV Drug Pricing Ends With a Fine and a Promise — But Practice Continues With HCV Meds

The Body: Investigation of Humana’s Discriminatory HIV Drug Pricing Ends With a Fine and a Promise — But Practice Continues With HCV Meds
The Body: Investigation of Humana’s Discriminatory HIV Drug Pricing Ends With a Fine and a Promise — But Practice Continues With HCV Meds

By Althea Fung

Humana health insurance company has been fined $500,000 by Florida regulators for failing to cooperate with investigators looking into claims that its drug pricing discriminated against people living with HIV.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FIOR) announced the fine last week following an investigation into allegations that Humana and three other health insurers in Florida — Cigna, Preferred Medical and CoventryOne — structured their prescription drug policies to discourage people living with HIV from selecting their insurance plans.

The number of new HIV cases in Florida jumped 23% in the first six months of 2015. All six of the state’s major metropolitan areas are on the U.S. Census Department’s 2014 list of the top 25 cities with high HIV rates, with Miami sitting in first place.

The complaint, lodged by the AIDS Institute and the National Health Law Program (NHeLP), alleged that the insurers placed all HIV drugs, including generics, on their highest (tier five) pricing schedule — which in Humana’s case required a 50% co-pay after a $1,500 deductible. Read the full article here. »

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