House Proposes to Gut Ending HIV Programs

“While we appreciate the sustained funding for some domestic HIV and hepatitis programs, we are devastated by the proposal to eliminate the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative,” said Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. “We were on a trajectory to end HIV by ensuring all people have access to care and treatment, and prevent new infections through increasing access to PrEP, but now all those efforts will be lost. This bill cannot stand as is.”

Congressional Bills Introduced to Expand Access to PrEP

“We thank the leadership of Sen. Smith, Rep. Schiff, and their 53 colleagues in re-introducing the PrEP Access and Coverage Act,” commented Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. “Passage of these bills will greatly expand access to PrEP for people who have health coverage across all payers and create a national PrEP program that includes community and provider outreach as well as PrEP drugs and associated services for the uninsured. We must address head on the wide disparities in PrEP use and these bills do that.”

25 HIV & Hepatitis Organizations File Amicus Brief to Protect Preventive Services Coverage

The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute and 24 other HIV and hepatitis organizations filed an amicus brief in support of the U.S. government in Braidwood Management v. Becerra, the challenge to the ACA’s preventive services coverage requirement, arguing, “A wholesale invalidation of the coverage requirement for USPSTF’s recommendations would strike a critical, unnecessary, and costly blow to the battle to end HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.”

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.

HIV+Hep releases report detailing funding needed to increase PrEP uptake

The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute has released a report modeling the resources needed to fund a national PrEP program to cover the cost of medications, associated labs, and prescriber time for the uninsured along with necessary provider and community outreach to increase uptake, estimating the cost at $521 million for the first year and $6.18 billion over ten years.

Nation Must Do Better in Ensuring Patients Receive Hepatitis C Curative Drugs

"This situation is completely unacceptable. We have a cure for a serious infectious disease, but people who have taken the time to get tested and know they have hepatitis C are not being cured," commented Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. "The vast majority of these people have health coverage but payers such as private insurers, state Medicaid programs, and Medicare are erecting barriers to patient access."

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.

Key Issues

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

Facebook posts by @HIV+Hep

Tweets by @HIV+Hep

Pin It on Pinterest