We believe policymakers should focus on those issues that directly impact patients, such as PBM regulation and reform, standard plan designs with reasonable deductibles and nominal copays, and ensuring copay assistance counts. We realize that Illinois has taken many of these steps already, and that Illinois policymakers are advocating for change at the national level, too, but more can be done.
Given the importance—and immense cost—of developing new treatments and cures, Amici have a profound interest in ensuring that the law not disincentivize innovation. Amici were accordingly concerned to learn of the new legal duty recognized by the Court of Appeal in this case, which would impose liability on manufacturers of drugs that are undisputedly safe and effective as approved by the FDA itself. The new duty is indifferent to the safety of the existing product, imposing liability if a manufacturer “knew” it could potentially make an even “safer” alternative.
Our nation can eliminate both HIV and viral hepatitis, but without an infusion of new resources to accelerate our efforts, we will continue to fall short of these ambitious goals. Current discussions involving budget caps that reduce non-defense discretionary appropriations would have devastating impacts on our nation’s public health system and our ability to respond to these two infectious diseases.
Our nation can eliminate both HIV and viral hepatitis, but without an infusion of new resources to accelerate our efforts, we will continue to fall short of these ambitious goals. Increased investment in surveillance, education, prevention, and care and treatment will ensure we continue to address HIV and viral hepatitis, including taking a syndemic approach to achieve maximum impact. The programs and funding increases detailed below are pivotal to our nation’s ability to end both these potentially deadly infectious diseases.
HIV+Hep offered comments on the proposed national elimination plan for hepatitis C, asking how the initiative would be funded and authorized, where the initiative would be housed, and why there is a need for the government to purchase medications.