Fireside Chat Retreat in Washington, DC Tackles Pressing Public Health Issues

By: Brandon M. Macsata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy, and Ranier Simons, ADAP Blog Guest Contributor

ADAP Advocacy hosted its Health Fireside Chat retreat in Washington, DC, as part of a broader health policy retreat convened collaboratively with the Community Access National Network (CANN) and its Industry Advisory Group. Board members from both organizations, as well as respective consultants and funders, assembled to discuss pertinent public health issues facing patients in the United States. The Health Fireside Chat convened on Friday, December 6th. The 27 diverse stakeholders discussed Trump Two, one-party rule returning to the nation’s capital, Inflation Reduction Act, 340B Drug Pricing Program, Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs), AIDS Drug Assistance Program’s drug formularies, and long-acting injectables. 

Photo Source: Getty Images

The Health Fireside Chat kicked off with a political recap from political commentator Mark Halperin, editor-in-chief - 2WAY Interactive. During the 2024 presidential election, Halperin had scooped that President Joe Biden was dropping out of the presidential race days before the news broke, as well as three weeks prior to the election sounding the alarm that the Harris-Walz campaign was in big trouble in the swing states' suburbs. 

Halperin shared his perspectives on what a second Trump Administration might look like, both from a potentially positive viewpoint, as well as a not-so-positive one. He offered some predictions on the Cabinet nominations, again noting where some could serve as potential change agents to improve public health – but also emphasized the unpredictability behind some of those same nominees if confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Halperin offered strong advice on the need to “get in the room” for the important conversations, which he argued won’t happen by merely attacking the incoming administration. Despite the extremes of both parties gaining more power, he offered examples whereby the “center” still holds a lot of weight over the legislative process to do good. Halperin took questions about what Trump Two and the GOP-led Congress might do for HIV, sharing even more advice on how to navigate those waters.

Mark Halperin discusses political landscape and health policy

The day-long strategy session was designed to capture key observations, suggestions, and thoughts about how best to address the challenges being discussed at the Health Fireside Chat. The following represents the attendees:

• Guy Anthony, President & Founder, Black, Gifted & Whole Foundation
• Donna Christensen, former Member of Congress
• Erin Darling, Associate Vice Pres. & Counsel, Federal Policy, Merck
• Amy Dempster, Director, Issue Advocacy and Alliances, Genentech
• Robert Dorsey, Chief of Staff, DC Department of Small & Local Business Development
• Alexander Garbera, Member, New Haven Mayor’s Task Force on AIDS, City of New Haven, CT
• Dusty Garner, Patient Advocate
• Patrick Ingram, Implementation Project Manager, Midwest AETC
• Ashley John, Director, Issue Advocacy, Novartis
• Lisa Johnson-Lett, Peer Support Specialist, AIDS Alabama
• Amanda Kornegay, President, Kornegay Consulting
• Jen Laws, President & CEO, Community Access National Network
• Darnell Lewis, Patient Advocate
• Brandon M. Macsata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy
• Travis Manint, Policy Consultant, Community Access National Network
• Maria Mejia, Patient Advocate
• Judith Montenegro, Program Director, Latino Commission on AIDS
• Theresa Nowlin, Patient Advocate
• Kassy Perry, President & CEO, Perry Communications Group
• Amanda Pratter, Director, Policy Advocacy, Gilead Sciences
• Kalvin Pugh, Policy Consultant, Community Access National Network
• Josh Roll, Director, Strategic Alliances & Issue Advocacy, Bristol Myers Squibb
• Ranier Simons, Policy Consultant, Community Access National Network
• Cindy Snyder, Retired
• David Spears, Creatives Consultant, ADAP Advocacy
• Jennifer Vaughan, Patient Advocate
• Joey Wynn, Grants & Contract Manager, Holy Cross Hospital

ADAP Advocacy is pleased to share the following brief recap of the Health Fireside Chat.

This particular Fireside chat did not have its standard format of specific formal presentations followed by discussion. It was more free flowing, consisting of an exchange of ideas surrounding many sub-topics and all surrounding public policy strategies. One of the most important threads of discourse was navigating policy and advocacy work in dealing with the incoming Trump Administration. A significant concern is figuring out how to manage hostile spaces in order to effect needed change.

The reality is that Trump is the president-elect. Moreover, albeit narrow, Republicans do have majority control across the board. This potentially makes it harder to achieve policy and advocacy goals because effecting change requires being in the room at the table when things are being done. A prevailing sentiment is that those rooms and tables are not welcome to racially and ethnically diverse, sexually diverse, and vulnerable communities that traditionally are adversely affected by and targeted by right-wing conservative ideology and policies. Yet, on some issues, Republican interests could be better aligned with patient interests on things like access to therapies (i.e., right-to-try), or reforming the abuses by big hospital systems and mega service providers under the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

An important focus of group discourse surrounded staying true to marginalized communities while speaking truth to power. The consensus is “wins” can be scored in unfriendly spaces by focusing on common ground, and in doing so doesn’t negate the deeply rooted concerns in other policy or political areas. As the late Bill Arnold often argued, “In this space, you have to leave your personal politics at the door if you’re going to achieve anything meaningful.” One example that was cited was the success in harm reduction policies by the North Carolina Harm Reduction in the Tarheel State.

Photo Source: JazzHR.com

Similarly, it is essential to not leave certain groups behind when broader community discussions are happening around legislation. It is necessary for advocates to figure out how to strategically call out grievances without compromising opportunities to access the players required to effect change. Sometimes, it is a matter of identifying the appropriate messenger for a specific audience. This does not mean the sociologically identified middle-aged white woman or cis-gendered heterosexual white male must be the vehicle to get a seat at every table. It does mean it’s wise to navigate relationships and understand the parties involved to determine the best messengers for different steps of strategic processes. The group had strong consensus that more women of color need to be invited to these proverbial tables. If for nothing else, t requires trust between the messengers and the communities they represent. The most effective messengers for an issue may not always look like or have the lived experience of some of the people for which they are representing. Thus, trust must be built in that they are effectively representing the needs and interests of affected communities when messengers are operating in hostile spaces. Humanizing issues with policymakers is a way to work through the muck and mire of ideological toxicity.

Another significant portion of this Fireside Chat discourse revolved around federal versus state issues. ADAP Advocacy collaborates with CANN to effect change on state and federal matters, as both have specific inroads of expertise. It is increasingly likely that more issues will be impacted at the state level more so than at the federal level. For example, there is a lot 340B-related activity and PDAB (Prescription Drug Affordability Board) legislation occurring on the state level. On the federal level, PEPFAR, Ending the HIV Epidemic, and the possibility of a Ryan White reauthorization are several issues of concern. There is strong evidence to suggest that the new incoming Republican majority in Congress plans to take a hard look at all the sunset programmatic laws as a way to achieve "savings" in the federal budget.

CANN shared a recently released video on PDABs, and how these boards are embarking on inadvertently creating a service delivery crisis for patients living with HIV. The video can be viewed online, here. Additionally, ADAP Advocacy shared a sneak peek of its new patient-centric advocacy tool highlighting why the 340B Program needs reform. Some discussion centered around California's Proposition 34, and embracing what voters achieved to bring better accountability and transparency to the 340B program. 

Photo Source: CANN

HIV is the tip of the spear that opens the door to conversation that makes room for navigating other community issues. Group discourse emphasized the need to strengthen the “Grassroots-to-Capitol Hill” pipeline of advocacy and influence. It was deemed necessary to enhance communication among major advocacy organizations such that there is a commonality of messaging on major issues when Capitol Hill interests inquire for guidance about community concerns. Additionally, it is necessary to identify members, such as some in the House, who can be ‘allies’ knowingly or unknowingly, to help influence the influencers to target things in a bipartisan manner to move the needle in favor of vulnerable and marginalized communities. Most importantly, it is imperative to open their eyes to how positively affecting change for these communities is beneficial to the general population as well.

ADAP Advocacy’s Health Fireside Chats are deeply rooted in the diverse voices who contribute valuable insight from various spaces of their expertise and lived experiences, all focused on the same issue of effecting positive change. In addition to lively and productive group discussion, individual spontaneous conversations occur between people who would otherwise not be in the same room. Virtual meetings are effective and have their place. However, there are times when the power and value of being physically present is undeniable.

Additional Fireside Chats are planned for 2025.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates.