Harvard Pilgrim has reversed an initial plan to decline to cover two of four recommended drugs that treat HIV.
The change ensures that Mainers insured by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, either through CoverME.gov or through a small employer plan, will see all eight preferred and alternative regimens for the treatment of HIV covered under their plans.
One of the drugs, Biktarvy, is prescribed to nearly half of all HIV patients in the U.S.
The decision comes after several physicians and health care advocates criticized Harvard Pilgrim and accused it of discrimination, and the company faced pushback from Maine’s Bureau of Insurance.
“I welcome action taken by Harvard Pilgrim to reverse its initial decision to exclude these drugs – a decision made after the Bureau of Insurance pushed for this change,” Bob Carey, Maine’s Superintendent of Insurance, said Monday evening.
Katie Rutherford, executive director of the Frannie Peabody Center, said in the complaint filed in November that Harvard Pilgrim’s earlier move discouraged people from enrolling in health insurance coverage.
Similar discrimination complaints were filed against Harvard Pilgrim in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It was not immediately clear Monday evening whether HIV drug coverage would be reinstated for residents of those states.
