HUMANA FLORIDA DROPS COVERAGE OF HIV PHARMACEUTICALS - LEAVING
THOUSANDS WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
By Mauricio Rosas
January 5, 2005
Tampa- In a major blow to patients
with HIV the leading Medicare HMO has dropped coverage for Highly Active Anti
Retroviral Treatment (HART), prescriptions that treat HIV/AIDS. In
fact, the coverage for many previously covered pharmaceuticals are no longer
covered due to changes requested in November by Humana. And of course
the Medicare Administration had no objections. Though Humana’s
home office in Louisville, Kentucky claims they notified their clients they
have no way of proving that members actually received notice. And the State
of Florida has made no provisions to offset this tsunami of patients who will
be looking for assistance with the AIDS Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) or
Ryan White Funding.
Gov. Jeb Bush is planning to undertake the "politically
ambitious task" of asking state legislators and the Center for Medicaid Services
to authorize the biggest cuts and to implement caps to the state’s $14
billion Medicaid program. This is significant because Medicaid is one
of the primary sources for payment of many HIV medications. Bush has indicated
he plans to "modernize and slow the expansion" of the program, which currently
serves 2.3 million beneficiaries, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
So in other words, Jeb Bush is planning to slow down the rate at which people
get sick. And if they get sick they will simply have to wait.
For the time being many Humana members are finding out about
this change in prescription drug coverage when they make their prescription
refill requests. Of course they are shocked when they learn their co-pay
jumped from $200/month to $4000/month. For those on a fixed income the
alternative is to do without and face an early death.
This is an initial announcement to inform doctors and patients
of this perverse policy change.
If you or anyone you know is on Florida’s Humana PPO
please contact us directly as we would like to have testimonials and people
who are willing to speak to the press about this issue.You
may contact us via email at vof@voiceoffreedom.com or mrosas1@tampabay.rr.com or phone at
813-231-3326 and ask for Maurice.
Following is a partial list of medications from Humana’s
website and the cost of medications.
|
Drug Name
|
Covered?
|
Your Cost
|
|
|
Quantity
|
|
| |
|
not covered
|
$496.74
|
brand
|
no
|
180
|
$496.74
|
| |
|
not covered
|
$152.75
|
brand
|
no
|
120
|
$152.75
|
| |
|
not covered
|
$651.46
|
brand
|
no
|
300
|
$651.46
|
| |
|
not covered
|
$547.58
|
brand
|
no
|
60
|
$547.58
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
not covered
|
$754.94
|
brand
|
no
|
60
|
$754.94
|
| |
|
not covered
|
$658.29
|
brand
|
no
|
300
|
$658.29
|
| |
|
not covered
|
$658.29
|
brand
|
no
|
120
|
$658.29
|
|
|
not covered
|
$275.22
|
brand
|
no
|
180
|
$275.22
|
|
|
not covered
|
$422.26
|
brand
|
no
|
90
|
$422.26
|
