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…
If living with psoriatic disease isn’t challenging enough, most people struggle to afford their treatments. On top of that, insurance companies are increasingly using policies that prevent patients from receiving the right medication for them. Join NPF in the Lone Star State for our Texas Step Therapy Lobby Day. Together, we can change lawmakers’ minds.…
This March, we will be in Iowa educating Midwestern lawmakers on the pitfalls of Step Therapy, and we need you there. Step Therapy, also known as “fail first,” is a tool used by health insurance companies to control the order in which a patient takes certain medications approved for a given condition. In other words,…
Recorded November 15, 2016 This webcast provides a synopsis and guidance on how to best utilize step therapy protections recently enacted by legislature in July of 2016. Presented by Carrie Davis, MD, Dermatologist, Dermatology Center of Southern Indiana and Michele Guadalupe, State Director of Advocacy and Access, Arthritis Foundation. Moderated by Patrick Stone, Vice President…
Recorded September 29, 2016 This webcast provides a synopsis and guidance on how to best utilize Step Therapy patient protections in Connecticut. Presented in partnership with the Connecticut Rheumatology Association, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Presented by Patrick Stone, Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy, National Psoriasis Foundation, Sarah Buchanan, Director…
Because of the rise in costs of conventional medical treatments, many patients nowadays are beguiled by their health insurance companies into undergoing considerably less expensive options such as step therapy. This “wealth before health” kind of thinking is actually futile and unwise, at best, since step therapy is never a good option in treating life-threatening…