Blue Cross Blue Shield Sued by Company serving Hemophiliacs

Blue Cross Blue Shield and six of its licensees, several employees, and its pharmacy benefit management company, Express Scripts Holiding Co are being sued by Factor Health Management amid claims that the insurance giant destroyed its business by refusing to pay the claims of its hemophiliac patients and conducting a “witch hunt” that destroyed its reputation.

Factor health claims that BCBS (and other defendants) conspired to drive it out of business and steer its hemophilia patients to pharmacy chains and pharmacy benefit management companies and to government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.  According to documents filed in the West Palm Beach, FL courtroom, the conspirators falsely accused Factor Health (and subsidiaries FHM Group and FCS Pharmacy – who are also plaintiffs) of fraud, reported them to state and federal law enforcement, fabricated reasons to deny payment of their patients’ claims, defamed them to patients, vendors, insurance companies and regulators, and generally harmed their relationships with consumers.

Additionally, they reduced payouts to the Factor Health companies to sabotage a deal to sell Factor Health’s pharmacy business to a private equity firm and force it out of business, according to the complaint.

The plaintiff is seeking over $100 million in damages for tortious interference.

Read the full write up via Courthouse News Service.