The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute remains committed to advancing policies that ensure access to affordable medications while fostering the development needed to fight HIV and hepatitis. We urge you to oppose S.875 and recommend exploring alternative approaches that directly address affordability without risking access or undermining medical advancements.
As the Board finalizes its list of prescription drugs to review, we want to reiterate our concerns about the inclusion of HIV and hepatitis medications and encourage the Board to reconsider their inclusion. We believe that affordability reviews of HIV medications fail to fully account for the intricacies of the existing HIV safety net, which makes lifesaving HIV treatments affordable for most people. We also want to highlight numerous factors in the global HIV drug ecosystem that would be difficult for a state to effectively consider.
By passing H 3934, South Carolina will join 24 other states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in protecting consumers purchasing insurance on the private market. This legislation ensures that copay assistance counts toward cost-sharing obligations, preventing patients from facing insurmountable financial barriers to their medications. For people with HIV, hepatitis, and other chronic conditions, reliable access to medication is critical. Individuals with HIV and hepatitis B require lifelong drug regimens, while those with hepatitis C can be cured in as little as 8 to 12 weeks. Yet high deductibles and cost-sharing requirements often make these treatments unaffordable, even for insured patients. Copay assistance is a lifeline, particularly in today’s challenging economic climate, where inflation and rising costs are straining household budgets.
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. House Bill 6209 represents an essential safeguard against harmful insurer practices, ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatments for Rhode Island residents.
We strongly believe that affordability reviews of HIV medications are unnecessary, given the comprehensive safety net programs that effectively ensure access to lifesaving treatments. Any future pricing interventions, such as the imposition of UPLs, could destabilize this well-established network, threatening access to care for people living with HIV. Programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, the 340B program, and manufacturer copay assistance are critical to sustaining the progress and innovation that have transformed HIV treatment.