Press Releases

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New CDC PrEP data demonstrates importance of federal funding

Oct 17, 2023

“While the data demonstrate progress in PrEP usage, which will translate into fewer new HIV transmissions, the low usage of PrEP among the communities most impacted by HIV points to the need for increased and targeted federal resources,” said Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. “Unfortunately, House Republicans have proposed to cut $220 million from CDC’s HIV prevention program and completely eliminate HRSA’s $157 million PrEP program for community health centers. If these cuts were to be realized, instead of reporting on progress, the nation will be experiencing increased new HIV transmissions, which in the long run will cost us more.”

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Court strikes down HHS rule that allowed insurers to not count copay assistance

Oct 2, 2023

In a major victory for patients who depend on prescription drugs, Judge John D. Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down a Trump administration federal rule that allowed health insurers to not count drug manufacturer copay assistance towards a beneficiary’s out-of-pocket costs. The case was brought against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, Diabetes Leadership Council, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, and three patients who depend on copay assistance and whose insurers implemented “copay accumulator” policies.

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HIV+Hep alleges Texas health plan providing substandard & discriminatory HIV drug coverage

Sep 26, 2023

Today, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute filed another complaint against an insurer for violating the patient protections included in the Affordable Care Act. This time, the group alleges that Community Health Choice Texas, based in Houston, offers substandard HIV drug coverage by not covering recommended drugs for HIV treatment, including single tablet regimens, and is discriminating against people with HIV by placing most of the drugs that it does cover on the highest and most costly tier.

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Insurer responds to HIV discrimination complaint by lowering patient costs for drugs

Aug 30, 2023

Months after the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute and the North Carolina AIDS Action Network filed discrimination complaints against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina for placing almost all HIV drugs on the highest drug tiers, the insurer has released a new mid-year drug formulary that leaves not a single HIV drug on the highest and most costly drug tiers. Instead of 48 HIV drugs, including many generics, on Tiers 5 and 6, there are now none.  As a result, depending on the plan, patients will be paying more reasonable and affordable costs.

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USPSTF updates PrEP recommendation to include long-acting PrEP to prevent HIV

Aug 22, 2023

“The ACA recognized the value of preventive services to individual health, public health, and reducing healthcare costs. They also help identify conditions early on when more can be done to treat them or prevent disease acquisition altogether. Insurers are simply not doing a good job of making it easy for consumers to utilize them and regulators must take action to ensure access to these mandated life-saving services,” said Carl Schmid, Executive Director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute and a Consumer Representative to the NAIC.

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