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Aimed Monthly

This issue of Aimed Monthly includes two upcoming webinars, our Leader’s Edge interview, new opioid use disorder and cannabinoid resources, and more.
Highlights
Register Today: Cannabis, CBD, and Cannabinoids Webinar
On December 6, from 3PM to 4PM ET, Aimed Alliance will host a free webinar on HR.com on marijuana, hemp, cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids. This webinar will inform both consumers and employers of the health, safety, and legal considerations surrounding cannabinoid usage. Webinar speakers include: 

Featured speakers: 
  • J. Kevin Massey, Chairman of the Board, Aimed Alliance 
  • Aaron Weiner, Ph.D., Addiction Psychologist, Bridge Forward Group, LLC  
  • Erin Jamieson Day, CEO, Community Impact NC  
  • Michael Barnes, Counsel to Aimed Alliance, Principal Attorney at Sequel Health Law 
Register here for the briefing.
 20 Organizations Urge Senate to Expand Access to Treatments for OUD
On November 2, Aimed Alliance hosted a legislative briefing on facilitating access to medications for opioid use disorders (“MOUD”). The objective of this legislative briefing was to educate patient and professional advocacy groups on the state of drug poisoning in the United States, and the need for the United States Senate to pass S.3257. The bill would expand the “14-day limit” to 60-days to ensure patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) can access their treatments. To learn more about the urgent need to expand access to MOUD, read the Executive Summaryhere.  

Read the letter to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen signed by 20 organizations here.  
Aimed Alliance Releases New Fact Sheets for Advocates and Senate  
On Nov. 2, Aimed Alliance released two new fact sheets to support the passage of S.3257. Review and share both the Fact Sheet for Advocates: S.3257 Reducing Barriers to MOUD and the Fact Sheet for Senators and Senate Staff: Senators Pass S.3257 To Facilitate Access to MOUD.
Upcoming Webinar: Essential Health Benefits, Importation, and More – Do You Know the Risks? 
On December 13, from 11AM-12PM ET, Aimed Alliance will host a free webinar on HR.com. This webinar will discuss non-essential health benefit programs, alternative funding schemes, drug importation from outside the United States, and the potential legal implications for health plans electing to adopt these programs.This webinar will be of interest to employers, industry, patient advocacy organizations, and other non-profits. Register for the webinar here. 
Aimed Alliance Featured in Leader’s Edge  
On November 11, Aimed Alliance was featured in Leader’s Edge. Leader’s Edge is an award-winning content platform for The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, covering legal and legislative issues, regulation, management trends and best practices, technology, and more. Counsel to Aimed Alliance and Managing Attorney at Sequel Health Law, Michael Barnes, talked with Leader’s Edge about Aimed Alliance’s work on everything from prescription drug price transparency and mental health parity to employer liability related to cannabis. Read the full article here.  
Alliance Hosts Discussion on Step Therapy Reform in New York  
The New York Step Therapy Alliance hosted a roundtable meeting with New York Senator Breslin and Assemblyman McDonald, to discuss the current state of step-therapy law and reform efforts in New York; the impact of step-therapy on patients; how step-therapy protocols can be inconsistent with clinical best practices; health care providers’ perspectives and experiences; and how to achieve legislative success in 2023. Read the Executive Summary of the Roundtable Meeting, here.  
Aimed Alliance Featured as Member of Movement Disorders Policy Coalition   
On November 9, Aimed Alliance was featured as a member of the Movement Disorders Policy Coalition. The Movement Disorders Policy Coalition brings together advocacy groups, health care providers, patients and other stakeholders to inform policy impacting patient-centered care for individuals with movement disorders. Read Aimed Alliance’s feature here.
CCSS Releases Resource on Status and Risks of Unregulated Cannabinoids  
The Collaborative for Cannabinoid Science and Safety (CCSS) released a new resource titled, The Status and Risk of Unregulated Cannabinoid Products in the Marketplace. This article reviews the legal status of cannabinoids; the proliferation of products containing cannabinoids; the perceived benefits and known risks of CBD products; and the need for a regulatory pathway for cannabinoid products. Read the white paper here.   

In Case You Missed It
Aimed Alliance Submits Comment on Section 1557 Proposed Rule  
On October 3, Aimed Alliance submitted a comment to HHS on its proposed Section 1557 Rule. Our letter to HHS supported recognizing that Section 1557 includes discrimination in benefit design and excessive benefit utilization policies. We reiterated our long-standing position against the use of discriminatory quality adjusted life year (QALY) value assessments; and encouraged HHS to ensure that third-party programs that partner with health plans to manage their specialty benefits are held liable under Section 1557 for convincing health plans to adopt discriminatory plan designs. Read our letter here. HHS’s proposed Rule can be found here
Happy holidays from the board and staff of Aimed Alliance!  
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