Statement from CEO Julie Block on SelectHealth Denying Access to Eczema Treatment
NOVATO, June 26, 2023— SelectHealth, the largest health insurance provider in Utah, has announced it will eliminate Dupixent from its formulary for adolescents and adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD, or eczema) effective July 1, 2023. This means that Dupixent will no longer be covered, even for patients currently benefiting from the treatment and with an active prescription. There is not an available biosimilar, or generic, option.
Julie Block, CEO of National Eczema Association, issued the following statement following the announcement:
“This is an egregious overstep by SelectHealth with immediate consequences for the eczema community in Utah, and alarming implications for the rest of the country with the potential for other insurers to follow suit.
“Eczema is a chronic disease without a known cure that affects over 31 million Americans, with many experiencing severe and debilitating impacts. For eczema patients who already struggle to find an effective treatment — both because there have not been many available options and because what works for one person does not always work for another — loss of access to a treatment that works is especially hard to swallow.
“Non-medical switching, a change in a stable patient’s prescribed medication for reasons other than poor clinical response, side-effects or non-adherence, is proven to have multiple negative implications on health outcomes — in this case, exacerbated by it happening in the middle of the policy year.
“Decisions regarding a change in therapy should be based on clinical, quality of life and patient preference considerations. SelectHealth, we see you and will not let this stand.”
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About the National Eczema Association
Founded in 1988, the National Eczema Association (NEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the largest patient advocacy organization serving the over 31 million Americans who live with eczema and those who care for them. NEA provides programs and resources to elevate the diverse lived experience of eczema, and help patients and caregivers understand their disease, actively engage in their care, find strength in one another – and improve their lives. Additionally, NEA advances critical eczema research and partners with key stakeholders to ensure the patient voice is represented and valued in education, care and treatment decision-making. The eczema community is at an exciting juncture, with increased recognition of the seriousness and burden of eczema and a surge in scientific interest and development of new treatments. Bolstered by NEA’s strategic plan, Blueprint 2025, we are driving toward the ultimate vision: a world without eczema. Learn more at NationalEczema.org.
Contact:
Amber Whiteside
amber@nationaleczema.org
