The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, a leading organization advocating for equitable and affordable healthcare for individuals living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other chronic health conditions, strongly supports Assembly Bill 5217. This vital legislation ensures that health insurers accept and count payments made on behalf of patients toward their deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, a leading organization advocating for equitable and affordable healthcare for individuals living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other chronic health conditions, strongly supports House Bill 1216. This vital legislation ensures that health insurers accept and count payments made on behalf of patients toward their deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
When patients are forced to forego their medications due to high costs, the consequences are severe—not just for individual health outcomes, but also for public health and healthcare system costs. Policies that limit access to copay assistance exacerbate these challenges, disproportionately affecting those who are already vulnerable. LB158 represents an essential safeguard against harmful insurer practices, ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatments for Nebraskans.
While we share a commitment to addressing the high cost of prescription drugs, we have significant concerns with Virginia H.B. 1724 that creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). We believe it will not translate into lower drug costs for patients and may dampen future drug development.
While we all want to lower drug costs, we do not believe that expanding the PDAB’s Upper Payment Limit (UPL) authority will actually save patients money. Instead, we have significant concerns that SB 357 could unintentionally restrict access to critical medications, discourage investment in new treatments, and reduce funding to safety net programs that already help patients afford life-saving drugs.