2003-04-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

BAD REPORTING IN THE WASHINGTON POST. Mark Kaufman, writing about the over the counter Claritin in the Washington Post, states that "insurance and drug benefit companies ... no longer have to cover Claritin costs and often have dropped Allegra and Zyrtec coverage as well." This is false. Few, if any, major insurance companies or PBMs have dropped coverage of Allegra or Zyrtec, although many have raised the copayment for these drugs or imposed a step therapy requirement. Moreover, while it is true that these companies "no longer have to cover Claritin costs," this was the case before Claritin became available over the counter. Whether Claritin is available over the counter or not, insurers and PBMs can either choose to cover it or choose not cover it.

Pharmablog