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In the Know - AWIR Advocacy Newsletter -December 2019
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In the Know

AWIR Advocacy Newsletter
December 2019

AWIR Takes Action to Increase PBM Transparency and Funding for Bone Density Testing

In November, AWIR sent out an Action Alert to members on H.R. 2115, the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act, which is a bipartisan bill to help tackle the prescription drug affordability crisis and bring greater transparency to prescription drug negotiations. The bill would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to report their aggregate rebates, discounts, and other price concessions for prescription drugs to a public website so that consumers, employers, and other payers can understand and compare the discounts PBMs receive. The measure was approved 403-0 in the House and is currently in the Senate Finance Committee.

Additionally, there has been no movement on two bills pending in both the House and Senate which would establish adequate funding for osteoporosis testing. The Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act (H.R. 2693/S. 283) would help prevent Medicare patients from being under-diagnosed and under-treated for osteoporosis which has been occurring due to funding constraints. The legislation seeks to increase funding for bone density testing.


Please send your Congress members messages through our Action Center urging them to support increasing PBM transparency and funding for osteoporosis testing today.

TAKE ACTION
Advocating for Improved Patient Access in D.C.

AWIR chapter leaders are heading to the Hill again in February 2020 when they will meet with Congress members and staff to talk about policies affecting patient access to treatments. This will be AWIR’s second trip to D.C. to meet with lawmakers.  Standardizing prior authorization, step therapy reform, and drug pricing and transparency legislation will be amongst the topics discussed.

In November, AWIR wrote a letter to House and Senate Leaders, and other members of Congress to express concerns with proposals contained in House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 2543. In particular, AWIR urged Congress not to support the Schrader amendment contained in the bills which would change the reimbursement rate for biosimilar products from the Average Sales Price (ASP) of the reference biologic + 6% to ASP + 8%. Under the amendment, the 2% increase would result in patients paying more for biosimilars than for biologics. AWIR also provided input on additional proposals contained in the bills.

Read AWIR’s entire letter to Congress and our full list of policy priorities by clicking the buttons below.

AWIR LETTER TO CONGRESS
AWIR POLICY PRIORITIES
State Advocacy Moving into High Gear

AWIR will be expanding state advocacy in the new year and action plans have already begun. Several affiliate chapters will increase advocacy activities in 2020 to support utilization management reforms being addressed in state legislatures. In order to advance initiatives to reform step-therapy protocols, non-medical switching practices, accumulator adjustment programs, and PBM transparency, AWIR will be calling on local chapter leaders to assist with these efforts in select states. 

AWIR advocates in the state advocacy program will undergo additional training prior to the events planned to take place at the state capitols. AWIR state advocates will also have the opportunity to send letters to state legislators and meet with their legislators in their district offices. Additionally, state action alerts for step-therapy reform in North Carolina and Ohio Non-medical switching reform legislation are posted on AWIR’s Action Center. All NC and OH providers of rheumatology are encouraged to send messages to their legislators through AWIR’s Action Center.

For more information on state advocacy, please contact
Heather.Kazmark@naylor.com.

TAKE ACTION
Participants Needed: International Gender Disparity Survey

As we are nearing the end of 2019, we ask that members complete the International Gender Disparity Survey if they have not already done so. The objective of the survey is to identify variables which affect rheumatology professionals in their current or past workplace environments. Advancing women in rheumatology is of high priority for AWIR. Through your participation, AWIR can expand on existing research and propose possible solutions to lessen gender inequality in the rheumatology space.

To take the survey in English, click on the button. The International Survey is also available in Portuguese and an Italian translated version is forthcoming. Please contact Heather.Kazmark@naylor.com for survey assistance.

GENDER DISPARITY SURVEY

Join RheumPAC!

About RheumPAC: the ACR and ARHP's Political Action Committee
 
RheumPAC is the ACR’s nonpartisan political action committee (PAC) that works to elect and support pro-rheumatology candidates. It is the only PAC dedicated to the interests of the rheumatology profession. RheumPAC was created in 2007 with the mission of educating, electing, and supporting federal lawmakers who understand and can positively address the issues that impact rheumatology care providers and their patients.

 
JOIN RHEUMPAC

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