Weeks after a lawsuit was filed in San Diego over a program barring HIV/AIDS patients from using local pharmacies, Blue Cross of California will suspend the program.
The group Consumer Watchdog sued the insurer in San Diego on behalf of a patient, claiming the program discriminates against those with HIV.
The program, which was slated to take effect in March, would have required patients using certain drugs to buy them from a mail order pharmacy chosen by Blue Cross.
While people with many conditions could still buy their drugs locally, HIV patients were among those who would have been forced to order their prescriptions by mail.
Consumer Watchdog argued the policy threatened the health and privacy of some patients.
The organization published a letter that it says will be arriving this week in the mail to Blue Cross customers.
The company will work with the plaintiffs in the pending lawsuit to develop a more consumer-friendly program according to Consumer Watchdog.
