As part of its “Keep Seniors Safe” project, 60 Plus Association Chairman Jim Martin today sent a letter to Stephen Hemsley, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, asking that United adjust their Part D Medicare coverage to ensure seniors with gout can access colchicine products, which treats gout flare ups.

“As the largest health insurance provider in the country, United has the unique responsibility of setting a positive example for other insurers by always doing what is right for patients” wrote Martin. “You have an even greater responsibility to seniors because of your unique affiliation with AARP.  Sadly, you have failed to put the interests of either ahead of your desire to increase the profitability of your company.  As the head of an organization dedicated to protect the greatest generation, I am deeply disappointed in your misplaced priorities and urge you to reorder them immediately by placing patients over profits.”

The FDA’s “Unapproved Drugs Initiative” calls for the removal of unapproved drugs from the market when approved versions exist. The agency recently protected patients by acting on this initiative and removing untested colchicine products from the market. Unfortunately, this caused thousands of gout- suffering seniors with Part D plans to lose access to colchicine because unlike the unapproved colchicine they were receiving on Tier I and II, the only approved colchicine was classified as a Tier III drug, too expensive for most Medicare patients.

The majority of Part D plans have adjusted their colchicine coverage to ensure gout patients have access to the treatments they need, but UnitedHealth has failed to do so. Gout patients cannot switch out of their selected plans until the next open-enrollment period, which takes place in October.

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