Anthem, Inc. Health Plans Expand Access to HIV/AIDS Specialty Medications, Says Consumer Watchdog

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Jun 22, 2016, 09:00 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Anthem, Inc.'s, affiliated health plans are expanding the ways in which their members can receive HIV/AIDS specialty medications and will no longer have a requirement that members obtain HIV/AIDS medications only by mail.

Specifically, Anthem's affiliated health plan members receiving HIV/AIDS specialty medications through an exclusive specialty pharmacy benefit will now have the option to: 1) obtain their HIV/AIDS specialty medications from in-network retail pharmacies, or 2) obtain them through their existing specialty pharmacy by mail. This expansion of options is a result of a settlement announced today, as well as in response to a shift in the legal/regulatory environment.

The nationwide settlement was entered into between Anthem, Inc., Whatley Kallas, LLP, and Consumer Watchdog—a non-profit consumer group. This change is an important step in helping protect HIV/AIDS patients' health and privacy, according to Consumer Watchdog.

In addition, members affected by this change will receive a notice and a claim form by mail to request reimbursement of eligible out-of-pocket costs associated with the program.

Anthem's affiliated health plan members receiving HIV/AIDS specialty medications who have questions about their benefits or this expansion of options to receive their medications can contact their Anthem affiliated health plan (using the number on the back of their insurance card) or, if they have questions about the settlement, can contact Whatley Kallas, LLP at 1-800-745-8153 or Consumer Watchdog at 1-866-867-0439.

Consumer Watchdog is a non-profit and non-partisan consumer advocacy organization with offices in Washington, D.C. and Santa Monica, CA. Visit us on the web at: http://www.ConsumerWatchdog.org

The lawyers of Whatley Kallas, LLP have been repeatedly recognized in legal publications, such as The National Law Journal and American Lawyer, by their peers and by leaders of organized medicine for their work in the healthcare field. For more information, go to: http://www.whatleykallas.com/

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog