News Briefs: Plans, PBMs Are Blocking Access to Birth Control
October 27
A congressional panel found that major PBMs and health insurers are charging members cost sharing and imposing other coverage requirements on birth control products in violation of the Affordable Care Act. The “investigation identified more than 30 birth control products for which most health insurers and PBMs reviewed impose cost-sharing requirements or coverage exclusions,” according to a press release. Among the companies examined were CVS Health Corp., UnitedHealth Group, Elevance Health Inc., Cigna Corp., Humana Inc. and Prime Therapeutics, a PBM owned by a consortium of Blues affiliates. “From 2015 to 2021, companies denied exceptions requests on average four or more times out of ten,” the press release added.
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