The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute commented on the 2024 Draft Letter to Issuers, praising CMS for planning to conduct adverse tiering review for HIV and hepatitis C medications but expressing disappointment that they continue to allow insurers to collecting copay assistance for drugs that is intended for beneficiaries.
We, the undersigned 71 organizations, on behalf of millions of patients and American consumers who live with complex conditions such as HIV, autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes, lupus, hemophilia, mental illness, hepatitis, and neurological conditions write to comment on the Proposed Rulemaking for ACA Section 1557 Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities. As detailed below, we are extremely pleased that you have taken meaningful steps to improve upon current regulations to ensure that people are not discriminated against in healthcare. In several instances, you have proposed to restore protections that had been included in the past but later withdrawn. In other instances, you have provided further clarity on what constitutes discrimination. In any instance, we emphasize that the law and whatever is finalized in regulation must be strictly enforced.
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute is a leading HIV and hepatitis policy organization promoting quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions. We strongly support House File 3611 which would require health insurers to accept and count payments made on behalf of patients towards deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
[HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute] strongly supports [MS] Senate Bill 2470, which would require health insurers to accept and count payments made on behalf of patients towards deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums and ask that you conduct a hearing on the bill as soon as possible.
We are pleased that the Biden administration is moving forward with the requirement that insurance plans must report on various data points associated with prescription drug spending. We believe with this greater understanding and transparency of prescription drug costs, you can better implement policies and measures that increase competition, improve prescription drug affordability and access for the American people.