Hiv And Hepatitis Policy Institute

Hepatitis: hiv+hep carried out activities that advance policies and programs that increase viral hepatitis prevention and treatment, including the activities of the centers for disease control and prevention viral hepatitis division. The principal focus of hiv+hep's activities was to ensure there are sufficient resources for states and community-based organizations to offer hepatitis testing, conduct surveillance, and link people with hepatitis to healthcare and the treatment they need to maintain their health or in the case of hepatitis c, to be cured. Hiv+hep offered comments on the administration's proposal to end hepatitis c. Hiv+hep submitted public comments and testimony, issued press releases, responded to media inquiries, and conducted other media activities. This work was conducted on its own and in coalition with others, including the hepatitis appropriations coalition.

General healthcare access: hiv+hep worked to ensure people living with serious and chronic health conditions have access to affordable healthcare, including prescription drugs. This included policy analysis in the areas of medicaid, medicare, and private insurance. Hiv+hep educated the patient community, the media, and policymakers at the federal and state levels, on the importance of copay assistance for prescription drugs. We successfully won a legal challenge of the federal regulation that allows insurers to implement copay accumulator programs and urged the federal government to comply with the court's decision. Hiv+hep also participated in the activities of the national association of insurance commissioners, where we focused on the impact of pharmacy benefit managers on patient access and affordability of prescription drugs, prior authorization processes, and coverage of preventive services. Hiv+hep submitted comments on proposed executive agency regulations, issued press releases and responded to media inquiries, and presented before patient groups. This work was performed on its own and in coalition with other patient groups, including the partnership for part d, medicare access for patients rx (maprx), and all copays count coalition.