February 15, 2011

Dear Sir or Madam:

As you may know, gout is a painful form of arthritis that primarily affects seniors. Patients afflicted with this disease depend on colchicine products to treat acute gout flare-ups that often occur at varying frequencies and intensities depending on individual patients.

I am writing to you to discuss the lack of access to vital gout-medication being experienced by thousands of seniors enrolled in Cigna’s Part-D Medicare plan.

Recently, as part of their Unapproved Drugs Initiative, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed untested versions of colchicine from the market.  At the time of the FDA’s action, most Part-D plans offered the unapproved version of colchicine as a tier I or tier II drug.  As a result, the vast majority of seniors had access to this needed treatment for their painful condition.  Today, with the unapproved version all but removed from the marketplace, we find that a certain number of seniors are unable to gain access to the only FDA approved version of colchicine-based gout medicine “Colcrys” because it has been placed on tier III with a co-pay that is too high for many to afford.  While many Part-D plans have acted in the best interests of the seniors they serve, there are a few, including CIGNA’s Medicare Rx-that has failed to place Colcrys in the appropriate tier and thereby has effectively prevented seniors from gaining access to a treatment they desperately need.

In light of the FDA’s removal of unapproved colchicine from the market, CIGNA must follow the lead of other Part-D insurers around the country and reclassify COLCRYS as a tier-1 or 2 drug to ensure seniors have access to their vital gout medications. It is unjust to force patients to suffer through often excruciatingly-painful acute gout flare-ups despite the fact that they were promised affordable coverage for their medications when they signed up for your plan,

We firmly believe that without your immediate attention on this issue it will further endanger the same seniors your plans are meant to protect.

The FDA did what was best for patients by removing untested colchicine products from the market.  We hope your company will also act in the best interest of patients and immediately work to ensure that seniors enrolled in your Part-D plan have access to the colchicine products they were promised-and sorely need.  If I can be helpful moving forward to help quickly address this issue please do not hesitate to reach out to our staff.

Sincerely,

James L.  Martin, Chairman

60 Plus Association
“Keep Seniors Safe” Project