On June 22, the Senate released its long-awaited health care bill to repeal much of the Affordable Care Act. Known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act, it has a number of components that are similar to the American Health Care Act from May. Senate leadership has a desire to vote on this bill during the…
Recorded June 16, 2017 Current step therapy protections, which were enacted this year by the legislature will go into effect on January 1, 2018, offer patients and physicians a clear process to obtain a step therapy protocol exception. Our step therapy webinars provide a synopsis of those protections and guidance on how they can be…
NPF patient advocates meet lawmakers in Sacramento to work for change at the California Advocacy Summit. According to a recent study from Avalere, only one-third of enrollees in a 2015 health insurance plan on Healthcare.gov picked the same plan as the previous year. Furthermore, the majority of people in exchanges are enrolled in their plans…
Nothing is as powerful as a group of concerned citizens visiting their senator or representative. The Advocacy Action Networks are a connection of patients and health care providers. They advocate for legislative solutions to access-to-care barriers to improve the lives of those affected by psoriatic disease. They connect once a month to discuss legislative updates…
Recorded April 19, 2017 Educational step therapy webinars, moderated by Patrick Stone, Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy, National Psoriasis Foundation, on step therapy patient protections being proposed in Maine by Sen. Kimberly Rosen (District 8) and Rep. Jeff Pierce (District 53).
The State Government Relations team goes to Florida to continue its battle against step therapy. Advocates from the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) and Arthritis Foundation (AF) went to Tallahassee, the Florida state capitol, on April 4th to show their support. Furthermore, to advocate for the passage of House Bill 877 and Senate Bill 530. Passing…
In March, we traveled to Iowa to explain to lawmakers the problems step therapy poses for people with psoriatic disease. Also known as “fail first,” this policy gives insurers all the power. Every year, the State Government Relations team travels across the country to educate state lawmakers on the barriers people with psoriasis and psoriatic…
Without step therapy, any initial rises in drug costs would be offset by long-term savings in patient care. “Cost,” “budget” and “deficit” are words we see or hear almost daily in news headlines. Lawmakers and citizens alike are concerned that our governments are spending too much or not enough, especially when it comes to our…
In February, we showed Ohio lawmakers what happens to the psoriatic disease community when they are subjected to harmful step therapy protocols. The National Psoriasis Foundation’s state government relations team has been working hard to improve your access to health care and treatments. Every year, we travel across the country to visit state capitals and…
Last week, both the Texas Senate and House of Representative introduced legislation (SB 680 & HB 1464) that will curb step therapy protocols. In an effort to ensure the passage of the important legislation, NPF and the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society hosted the 2017 Texas Step Therapy Lobby Day. On Wednesday, Feb. 1, 18 NPF…