HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute

Patient groups file suit to end policy that prohibits copay assistance from counting toward patients' out-of-pocket spending

The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Insite, the Diabetes Leadership Council, and the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging a federal rule that allows health insurers and pharmacy benefits managers to avoid counting drug manufacturer copay assistance toward patients’ out-of-pocket cost obligations. Due to increased deductibles and cost-sharing requirements, patients rely on copay assistance to help them afford their prescription drugs.

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Senate Appropriations leadership proposes significant increases for domestic HIV programs: CDC hepatitis program receives support

"We sincerely thank Senate Labor, HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Patty Murray and her colleagues for demonstrating their continued commitment to ending HIV in the United States. The proposed increases will certainly help bring the US back on track to ending HIV," commented Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. "However, we still need a national program to increase access to PrEP. . . . If we are serious about ending HIV, we need a PrEP program now."

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Ending Hepatitis is something we can all do every day

“To end infectious diseases, we always need more scientific advances, but it is going to take a strategic, coordinated, & resourced public health response. Fortunately, we now have national strategic plans to end several infectious diseases including viral hepatitis, HIV, & STIs. A strength included in all the plans is a reliance on taking a syndemic approach to these often intersecting epidemics. Together we can get to the finish line faster.”

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Biden Budget Boosts Domestic HIV Funding & Proposes Nationwide PrEP Delivery Program: CDC Hepatitis Program Receives Increase

President Biden is proposing an increase of $377 million for the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative for a total of $850 million for efforts to end HIV by 2030. Additionally, in response to the HIV community and several members of Congress’ request to develop a program to increase access to PrEP, which are medications that prevent HIV, the president’s budget calls for the creation of an ambitious ten-year $9.8 billion nationwide PrEP delivery program. The budget includes numerous other program increases, including a bump of $13.5 million for the CDC’s hepatitis division.

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Biden administration takes big step in making drugs affordable for patients: Also strengthens non-discrimination protections

“This is a huge win for patients. Insurers have made it almost impossible for patients to afford their medications by first requiring them to meet a high deductible and then charging high co-insurance, which is a percentage of the list price of the drug. By limiting patient copays and keeping more drugs outside of the deductible, patients will be better able to afford their medications. We only wish the Biden administration would have applied these principles to more metal levels and drug tiers, but this provides better options for people who rely on prescription drugs.”

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Federal Government Issues Guidance to Insurers on Coverage of HIV Prevention Drugs

The federal government issued guidance to insurers to remind them of their obligation to cover pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which are drugs that prevent HIV, at no cost to their beneficiaries. The guidance, in the form of an FAQ, also clarifies that associated services with PrEP, such as provider visits and HIV, hepatitis, and STD testing along with other laboratory tests, must also be covered with no patient cost-sharing.

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Who We Are

Monitors policies that impact the prevention and treatment of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other health conditions in the United States.

Communicates with members of the HIV, hepatitis, and other patient group communities on key policy issues that impact their access to healthcare.

Educates policymakers and members of the media about efforts to end both HIV and hepatitis in the United States and to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare for people with or at risk of serious or chronic health conditions.

Causes We Care About, and So Should You!

HIV

Promote necessary funding, programs, and policies to end the HIV epidemic in the United States

HEPATITIS

Promote necessary funding, programs, and policies to end viral hepatitis in the United States

HEALTHCARE ACCESS

Promote necessary funding, programs, and policies to end viral hepatitis in the United States

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Facebook posts by @HIV+Hep

HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute5 days ago

A recent study by University of Southern California scholars showed that, between 2014 and 2018, the share of a hypothetical $100 insulin expenditure accruing to manufacturers decreased by 33%. During that same period, total U.S. spending on insulin hasn’t budged, but the share of insulin...

Big Pharma has taken much of the heat for sky-high insulin prices, but scrutiny could soon shift to other companies grabbing a growing slice of spending.

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HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute6 days ago

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/11/21/hiv-cases-black-women-treatment-prevention/8303299001/

Black women account for the majority of new HIV infections among women. Despite staggering rates, awareness and treatment efforts still focus on men.

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HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute1 week ago

The HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute & 38 orgs of the AIDS Budet & Appropriations Coalition wrote to the House Appropriations Committee, House Committee on Appropriations - Republicans, and Senate Appropriations Committee “asking that instead of using the outdated measurement of AIDS cases in order...

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HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute1 week ago

Until more systemic reforms rein in pharmaceutical manufacturers’ ability to set drug prices at such levels, accumulator and maximizer programs will be among the tools PBMs deploy on behalf of insurers and employers to ensure that they can continue to cover expensive but useful drugs.

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HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute1 week ago

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/984277

A study involving medical students reveals potential biases that go contrary to PrEP guidelines.

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HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute1 week ago

Online shoppers can already choose from more than a dozen self-testing kits, typically ranging in price from $69 to $500.

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Tweets by @HIV+Hep

In reply toHIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute

@HIVHep thanks @gracenapolitano @RepJohnKatko @RepBarbaraLee @RepJenniffer for introducing H Res 1390 ( https://t.co/2p5mzLFdqa) supporting #Medicare Part D’s 6 protected #Rx classes, & urges all @HouseDemocrats @HouseGOP members to cosponsor it: https://t.co/IpMCDUpq69 https://t.co/sfoU8lhTsu

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In reply toHIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute

@HIVHep’s Carl Schmid wrote to NY @GovKathyHochul to sign this bill: “We strongly support S.5299-A/A.1741-A, which would require health #insurers to accept & count payments made on behalf of #patients towards deductibles & out-of-pocket maximums”: https://t.co/j66VdiIHKo https://t.co/QpIAe8RjgJ

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HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute · 3 days ago
@HIVHep

From @MarketWatch: “‘This is a battle between pharmaceutical companies, #insurers & #PBMs, & #patients are caught in the middle,’ said Carl Schmid, exec dir of @HIVHep a plaintiff in the lawsuit seeking to overturn the fed govt’s copay accumulator rule”: https://t.co/kSy2t7kF4J

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HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute · 3 days ago
@HIVHep

Lawsuit Challenges Federal Copay Accumulator Policy | Health Affairs Forefront https://t.co/mEDOGYCV9I

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HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute · 4 days ago
@HIVHep

In @Pharmacy_Times @HIVHep’s Carl Schmid discusses the efficacy/safety of long-acting injectable #PrEP & barriers to PrEP access/uptake, including the lack of education, the costs associated with the medication & lab tests, lingering #HIV stigma, & more: https://t.co/5k3pfJRbgV https://t.co/bvCp8WOwqb

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HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute · 4 days ago
@HIVHep

https://t.co/xCz3r4MJob

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Patient groups file suit to end policy that prohibits copay assistance from counting toward patients' out-of-pocket spending

Senate Appropriations leadership proposes significant increases for domestic HIV programs: CDC hepatitis program receives support

Ending Hepatitis is something we can all do every day

Biden Budget Boosts Domestic HIV Funding & Proposes Nationwide PrEP Delivery Program: CDC Hepatitis Program Receives Increase

Biden administration takes big step in making drugs affordable for patients: Also strengthens non-discrimination protections

Federal Government Issues Guidance to Insurers on Coverage of HIV Prevention Drugs

Who We Are

HIV

HEPATITIS

HEALTHCARE ACCESS

Facebook posts by @HIV+Hep

HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute

Tweets by @HIV+Hep

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