Pharmacy needs accountability with HIV meciations

Aug 14, 2013

I have problems with my pharmacy, CVS Caremark mail order, re-filling my HIV perscriptions, causing delays and intruptions in my dosing. My insurance covers all the cost except $50 co-pay for each 90 supply. So the cost to me is $150 every 3 months - which is great. And my insurance pays the other $3000.00. Yet if I'm unable to pay the co-pay, sometimes due to my sceduled and limited disability income, the insurance will just delay the meds. I find this completely irresposible. I am reading, through your website and others, that other people with HIV have this same problem - which can lead to serious consequences for us with HIV. I think the pharmacies should be held accountable, expecially when insurance is covering 95% of the costs. This becomes a moral issue. Is there an advocacy group I can contact to address this problem and bring it to light? People with HIV have enough issues, usually, to deal with -the pharmacies should not add to the burden. Thank you, Kevin

Response from Dr. Henry

Agree completely. As a prescriber I also find it annoying and often bad patient care. In many cases insurers mandate which pharmacies to use and do not allow patients to use other more patient friendly pharmacies.KH