We joined with the Arthritis Foundation on a letter signed by 20 patient groups to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Oz regarding TrumpRx, thanking them for their efforts for lowering Rx costs, but highlighting the need to ensure that patients are aware that their costs do not count towards their insurance requirements and cost-sharing.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on new guidance the Department of Health and Human Services has issued on the interpretation of “federal public benefits” under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). We oppose any changes that limit access to testing, treatment, and prevention for communicable diseases, including HIV and hepatitis. New limits on access by “non-qualified” immigrants to healthcare for the testing, treatment, or prevention of communicable disease endanger not just those individuals, but by allowing communicable diseases to go undiagnosed, untreated, and unprevented, increase transmission, raise prevalence, and endanger the health of everyone in the United States.
As a nation, we are able to advance efforts to end the HIV and viral hepatitis epidemics. We possess proven prevention tools, including pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP), and effective treatments. We urge you to continue your historically strong commitment and leverage this pivotal moment to support the nation’s public health by comprehensively addressing these chronic diseases. Increased investment – and certainly not cuts – in surveillance, education, prevention, and care and treatment will lead to further progress in reducing HIV and viral hepatitis and allow us to continue to hold the promise of ending these epidemics.
As the Committee considers the nomination of David J. Welson, M.D. to serve as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute urges you to ensure the nominee will uphold a stalwart commitment to a comprehensive healthcare system that includes implementation of robust disease prevention efforts critical in making American healthier again and in ending the chronic diseases of HIV and hepatitis. These are suggested questions for Dr. Weldon concerning his support for 1) CDC HIV prevention programs instrumental in the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative (EHE), 2) increasing access to PrEP medications which prevent HIV transmission, and 3) CDC programs addressing viral hepatitis.
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, a national, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions, is pleased to submit comments on the proposed Notice of Benefit and…