Anthem Pulls Plug on Mail Policy

Health insurer Anthem pulled the plug on a policy in California that would require patients to get their specialty drugs through the mail.

It’s March 1st, and a policy from Anthem Blue Cross that was supposed to go into effect today restricting patients from getting their specialty drugs from a pharmacy of their choice has been suspended.

We covered the policy issue here, and after much publicity, the health plan decided to suspend the policy, according to LA Times’ David Lazarus.

Patients will not be required to get their specialty medications through CuraScript for the time being. Lazarus reported that the insurer sent letters informing patients of the policy suspension, and based on input from its members, the company has “eliminated the stated March 1, 2013, required date to use CuraScript for such additional specialty medications.”

"We are working diligently to enhance and make plain the many benefits of our Specialty Pharmacy program, and will clearly communicate all aspects of the Specialty Pharmacy program to you before any changes to the existing program are put in place," the letter asserted. "Again, nothing will change on March 1 as previously communicated.”