By Thomas Vincz, Public Relations Manager

As we continue monitoring the pandemic and working to ensure our members can get the care they need for COVID-19, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) will cover the drug Remdesivir for members whose doctors prescribe it as part of their treatment at an in-network hospital. Members will pay nothing out-of-pocket for the drug as part of Horizon BCBSNJ’s continued coverage of COVID-19 treatment.

To date, there is no medicine that will cure COVID-19 or a vaccine to protect against it. However, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Remdesivir has been shown to reduce recovery time by an average of four days. After its clinical trial in May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Remdesivir for emergency use.

While most who contract COVID-19 don’t require hospitalization, more severe cases do. For those patients, Remdesivir may be prescribed by their doctor. Remdesivir is an antiviral injectable that interrupts the virus’s ability to duplicate and spread in cells, which means the earlier the treatment is given the more effective it can be.

The drug’s maker, Gilead Sciences Inc., recently announced that it will charge $3,120 for a typical five-day Remdesivir course of treatment. Remdesivir is not available through a pharmacy and can only be provided to a patient who has been hospitalized.

Our highest priority remains helping our members get the care they need and ensuring that cost is not a barrier to care with COVID-19. Testing, diagnosis, and treatment for COVID-19 are fully covered and members will pay nothing out-of-pocket when care is provided by an in-network health professional or hospital.