Aetna improves insurance plan for psoriasis patients
Revised policy allows patients greater access to treatment
PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct 8, 2008)—Aetna, a leading diversified health care benefits company, recently changed its medical policies on a recommendation from the National Psoriasis Foundation to provide greater insurance coverage for psoriasis, a noncontagious disease of the immune system that causes red, scaly skin lesions that often itch, crack and bleed.
The National Psoriasis Foundation approached Aetna in 2006 after hearing concerns from patients about the health plan's restrictions. Following more than two years of discussions between the organizations, psoriasis patients can now obtain biologic treatments without facing obstacles that, under the old policy, restricted access to prescribed treatments.
Under the new policy, some prerequisites have been eliminated to facilitate access to biologic treatments. Also, patients no longer need to demonstrate that their psoriasis covers an excessive body surface area. Additionally, patients will no longer encounter long waiting periods before being approved for biologic treatment and, once patients begin a treatment, there is no cut-off point.
Highlights of the Aetna policy changes include reducing the body surface area requirements from 30 percent to 10 percent for patients to qualify for biologics and PUVA (ultraviolet light A plus the light-sensitive drug psoralen) phototherapy treatments; removing all "duration of psoriasis" requirements (patients no longer require a diagnosis of psoriasis for six months or a year before using a biologic); and revising its policy to include UVB (ultraviolet light B) phototherapy among acceptable standard therapies that must be tried before qualifying for biologic therapies.
"This is a great feat for the psoriasis community. We applaud Aetna for making these changes," said Sheila Rittenberg, senior director of advocacy and external affairs for the National Psoriasis Foundation. "It is important that major health benefits providers, such as Aetna, continue to see how greater access to patient care will profoundly improve these patients' ability to function."
The National Psoriasis Foundation advocacy department works year-round to ensure people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis receive quality care and access to medically necessary treatments. To date, the Psoriasis Foundation has entered into collaborative discussions with several insurance companies to reform restrictive policies.
To learn more about the National Psoriasis Foundation advocacy work, visit www.psoriasis.org.
To view Aetna's clinical policies in full, visit www.aetna.com and search psoriasis.
# # # #
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a noncontagious, genetic disease that results when faulty signals in the immune system prompt skin cells to regenerate too quickly, causing red, scaly lesions that can crack and bleed. It often affects the elbows, knees, scalp and torso but can appear anywhere on the body. As many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, according to the National Institutes of Health. Ten percent to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory disease which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Psoriasis can affect anyone at any age, including children. There is no cure yet for this lifelong disease.
About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is the leading patient-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for millions of Americans with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, and their families. We focus on education, advocacy and research toward better treatments and a cure. For more information, please call the Psoriasis Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at 800.723.9166, or visit www.psoriasis.org.
The links above take you off the Psoriasis Foundation Web site. The Psoriasis Foundation does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the content of external Web sites. Review complete terms of use.
| 
