Our Commitment to Transparency

By: Brandon M. Macsata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy Association

Transparency is a word often used, but equally often abused. A prime example is what transpired with the now defunct National Association of People With AIDS ("NAPWA"). Since the birth of the ADAP Advocacy Association in July 2007, transparency has been a core guiding principle of our organization and its advocacy activities. Personally, I take great pride in the fact that we share an abundance of information — including financial information — about our organization with stakeholders.

Ironically, I had planned to blog about our commitment to transparency, but that decision was reinforced after a (contentious) conversation with a colleague whom I respect, but disagree with from time to time. In an era where "facts" are often fake, these facts are indisputable.

Photo Source: smallbusiness.co.uk

Several weeks ago, an important question was posed in a report released by Kaiser Health News. The report — Patient Advocacy Groups Take In Millions From Drugmakers. Is There A Payback? — aimed to "expose Big Pharma’s ties to patient groups." It boasted about a national database of 1,215 patient advocacy organizations that received money from the drug companies who KHN tracked in 2015. The ADAP Advocacy Association was not among the organizations in the database, however. Our annual budget is probably so small that it didn't warrant the effort to include us.

So...let me save everyone the suspense. We proudly list our supporters on our website, and also make available information about our corporate partnership levels on our website. This information is exactly what we share with any potential funder of our organization, so there is no smoke and mirrors. We also proudly list all of our financial supporters in our Annual Report, which is also available on our website.

The ADAP Advocacy Association receives no taxpayer funding. All of our revenue is generated from individuals, corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations.

In 2017, our revenue as reported to the Internal Revenue Service was $279,392.39; it was derived from numerous sources — including corporate partnerships, awards dinner sponsorships ($1,000.00), conference registration fees ($199.00), training fees ($50.00), exhibit fees ($1,000.00), scholarship fund donations (ranging from $5.00 to $5,000.00), and miscellaneous donations. Approximately 68.61% were donations received from pharmaceutical companies and/or affiliated groups. That means $87,702.39 of our funding came from non-pharmaceutical sources. As the organization's CEO, one of the goals over the last decade has been achieving greater funding diversification because it is consistent with a sound business model.

That said, our top five pharmaceutical funders last year were Gilead Sciences (12.35%), Merck (11.63%), Janssen Pharmaceuticals (9.31%), ViiV Healthcare (8.59%), and AbbVie (8.05%). Our top five non-pharmaceutical funders were AIDS Healthcare Foundation (4.01%), Community Access National Network (3.76%), Ramsell Corporation (3.58%), Walgreens (3.58%), and Housing Works (1.79%). In total, we garnered the financial support from thirty-three (33) corporate entities (which was our best year to-date).

Our top individual donor was yours truly. Last year, I personally donated $16,119.65 to the organization.

The first few years after we launched the ADAP Advocacy Association, pharmaceutical company donations accounted for approximately 90%+ of our annual revenue. We never once hid this fact. The only non-pharmaceutical revenue came from the Oakland, California-based Ramsell Corporation. Our first pharmaceutical partner was Janssen Therapeutics (then, Tibotec Therapeutics). Today, one in every three dollars is generated from sources outside of the industry.

Over the years, we've approached countless corporations, foundations, and organizations seeking their financial support for our efforts to increase access to care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. Each one had a history of supporting HIV-related initiatives.

We've been declined by the Elton John Foundation (numerous times). We've been declined by the Ford Foundation (numerous times). The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation declined, as did the Walmart Foundation. Chevron was a strikeout. Kenneth Cole Productions, nope. Macy's was another flop. Target Corporation, too. And Levi Strauss & Co. And Starbucks (note: on several occasions Starbucks donated $5 gift cards for our conference bags). Now that my pride is wounded sharing only a handful of the letdowns, there should be a clearer picture painted for any remaining doubters about our attempts to achieve funding diversity.

The reality is simple. Without financial support from our pharmaceutical partners, small patient advocacy organizations could not and would not exist...including ours! I'm not ashamed or embarrassed by the support from our pharmaceutical partners, or the support from the many other funders either. Ironically, we've been criticized numerous times by other advocacy groups for accepting financial support from AHF. I'm also proud of the support that their organization has lent us. In fact, we proudly listed every single corporate donor in last year's blog, 10 Years of Accomplishment, Advocacy & Access to Care.

Some of our non-industry funders have included Bender Consulting Services, Flowers Heritage Foundation, Great Lakes ADA Center, MedData Services, Philadelphia FIGHT, Public Sector Solutions, Southwest Airlines, SunTrust Bank, and Wells Fargo. And yes, we have received considerable support from our pharmaceutical partners — and their support has been equally valued.

In fact, in the 11 years since our Articles of Incorporation were filed in the District of Columbia, not once has a pharmaceutical company demanded or requested a quid pro quo in return for its financial support. Let me repeat...not once!

...demanded support for pending federal or state legislation? Nope.

...nudged us to oppose potentially harmful regulation to the pharmaceutical industry? Never.

...requested allegiances for pro-big Pharma policies? Not even that one.

And let me be equally clear, on occasion the ADAP Advocacy Association has taken a very public stand on issues contrary to our pharmaceutical partners, and again...not once did a single one of them retaliate by withdrawing support. Therefore, speaking alone for our organization there is no direct or implied payback, or conflict-of-interest established by accepting their support.

Respect is earned, and our organization has earned the respect of its funders because they recognize the valuable contributions we make to patient advocacy. And...we will continue to do so. Case closed...

Photo Source: Keep Calm Network Ltd.

ADAP Open Drug Formulary Programs Improve Access to Care & Treatment; So why are there so few?

By: Brandon M. Macsata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy Association

Each State AIDS Drug Assistance Program ("ADAP") is unique in that "it decides which medications will be included in its drug formulary, and how those medications will be distributed to eligible consumers."[1] It clearly presents a conundrum between payers and consumers. Ask any payer of health benefits, and controlling costs is probably paramount to them. Ask any consumer of health benefits, and most important is the unrestricted access to all the supports, services and/or therapies that should be afforded to them. Therein is the divide between closed and open drug formulary programs, including ADAP.

(Editor's Note: This blog is not intended to be an endorsement of any product made by any pharmaceutical company but rather acknowledge the unique health needs experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS, as they attempt to access care and treatment that is appropriate, culturally competent, and timely)

Photo Source: COMP Blog

In March 2015, Managed Healthcare Executive published an article, Closed formularies hold the line on costs, which accurately summed up the challenges faced by health plans. Though health plans are quite different from State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, in general, they nonetheless do share an important thing in common. They often employ cost containment strategies in an effort to not only control costs, but also ensure plan sustainability. It provides little comfort, however, for consumers living with chronic health conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, who require access to numerous drug therapies.

According to the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors ("NASTAD"), only approximately one in five (1:5) ADAPs employ an open drug formulary program. The Online AIDS Drug Assistance Program Formulary Database (2018 version) reports the following states offer open drug formularies: Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington State. Only Washington State reports no drug exclusions under its open drug formulary program.[2]

To be fair, ADAPs aren't unique in this area. ADAPs mirror private health plans (and many other public health plans) in that they have closed drug formularies. Yet, open drug formulary programs are advantageous to consumers because they provide additional coverage for medications. So why are there so few?

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-87) dictates that "each ADAP must cover at least one drug from each class of HIV antiretroviral medications ("ARVs") on their ADAP formulary. RWHAP funds may only be used to purchase FDA-approved medications."[3] Otherwise, State ADAPs are pretty much left to their own fruition on which ARVs to include on their formularies, as well as non-ARV medications to treat other conditions and medication side effects.

Eddie Hamilton, founder of the Ohio-based ADAP Educational Initiative, summarized his support for open drug formulary programs:

“One of the leading barriers to care is the lack of access to the non-ARV medications for various reasons, such as co-pays or non-covered medications. Open formularies enhance ARV regimen compliance as it enables people living with HIV/AIDS to deal with the various side effects and co-morbidities associated with HIV. While the Ryan White program covers mostly HIV related services, it is counter-intuitive to fix only one medical issue while leaving other potential life threatening medical issues that would be preventable on the table. One may have a undetectable viral load but succumb to a heart attack because of the lack of access to a statin!”

It is disheartening when people living with HIV/AIDS are denied access to numerous non-ARV medications, especially when the medications could treat a litany of other health-related conditions. Some of the conditions commonly identified by consumers are lipodystrophy, diarrhea, hormone therapy, and co-infection with Hepatitis C ("HCV").

For example, HIV-related lipodystrophy remains an important health issue confronted by consumers yet often it is characterized by payers as cosmetic. Research has shown that between 20% and 30% of HIV-positive patients are experiencing excess visceral adipose tissue ("VAT"). For years, there's been a common misconception that this belly fat is just a physical cosmetic issue that is a side effect of earlier HIV treatments — something that must be accepted as a reality of now living longer with HIV-infection. Recent research dispels that myth so that even with newer anti-retro viral regimens this condition continues to exist.

An ADAP Blog posted in late 2016 highlighted the success by Massachusetts in expanding treatment options for people living with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The Treat Lipodystrophy Coalition fought tirelessly for the law to require insurance coverage for treatment of a debilitating and disfiguring side effect of HIV medications. Patients living with HIV-associated lipodystrophy are now demanding the same is done with public payers, such as ADAP and Medicaid.[4]

Photo Source: Treat Lipodystrophy Coalition

Carl Sciortino, executive director for the AIDS Action Committee, and former representative in the Massachusetts Legislature who introduced the aforementioned legislation, then summarized the effort to expand treatment access: "Some of our long-term survivors carrying the physical scars of earlier life-saving treatments have been denied the dignity and medical treatment they are entitled to for far too long. Lipodystrophy affects our veterans, and as a country we have effectively turned our backs on their need to treat their epidemic-inflicted wounds. I'm proud of our step forward in providing insurance coverage in Massachusetts, and I'm grateful for any interest it sparks in providing care to people living with HIV across the country."[5]

Tesamorelin (common brand name: Egrifta) is the only FDA-approved therapy to combat HIV-related lipodystrophy. Yet, as of December 31, 2017, only 11 ADAPs reported that they do include Tesamorelin on their drug formularies, including: Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Washington. Thanks to the ADAP Crisis Task Force, that soon could be changing after a discounted drug pricing agreement for ADAPs was reached with the drug's manufacturer.

One of the most common side effects causing angst for people living with HIV/AIDS is diarrhea. It is a widely held opinion that HIV-related diarrhea is a thing of the past with the advent of the newer ARVs. The "runs" impact long-term survivors quite often, according to a patient survey released in December 2017.[6]

Josh Robbins, Founder of the HIV Scoop, isn't known for being shy, and as such he become a vocal spokesman on how this common HIV-related side effect personally impacted his life. His advocacy on the issue has given hope to others like him. Robbins characterized the struggle as follows:

“Before I found the drug to help normalize my gastro issues related to living with HIV, I was at a crossroads with HIV treatment. Everyone preached the importance of adherence to ARVs and staying in care, but I was exhausted of the process because of diarrhea and me not finding relief from it or support medically. When I saw the information on the drug, I knew I wanted to give it a try. What could I lose as I tried everything else? After starting it, there wasn’t a magic moment that I knew it was working for me—but I did notice that I didn’t dread taking my ARVs anymore and I stopped missing doses because they made me feel bloated and the diarrhea was brutal. All of that slowed down to where I don’t even think about it anymore. Can I give all the credit to this drug? Maybe not, but I can say that I finally feel normal in my stomach, I don’t spend tons of time in the bathroom anymore, and I’m finally adherent to my HIV meds. At least for me, this drug makes my journey living undetectable possible, because it normalized my gastro issues. So, yea, this drug changed my journey living with HIV.”

The medication in reference is Mytesi. Unfortunately, currently only 22 State ADAP drug formulary programs cover Mytesi, and as such people living with HIV/AIDS suffering from diarrhea are forced to rely on less potent over-the-counter therapies. These therapies often provide little or no relief. Once again, thanks to the ADAP Crisis Task Force, that soon could be changing after a discounted drug pricing agreement for ADAPs was reached with the drug's manufacturer.[7]

Evidence suggests that HIV-infections disproportionately impact the transgender communities.[8] In its recent issue brief on transgender health, NASTAD acknowledged the need to adopt a holistic approach to providing health services to this underserved population. The issue brief reads, in part, "...it is imperative that ADAPs ensure that their interventions are informed by a robust understanding of the unique personal, societal, and structural barriers that impede access to care and treatment for transgender people."[9]

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has documented the unique needs set facing the transgender communities in the United States. CDC data suggests there is a need for gender-variant, culturally competent awareness and guidelines designed to better serve this underserved community enrolled in public health programs, as well as those persons eligible, but not enrolled (including ADAP).[10]

The CDC concluded, “Insensitivity to transgender identity can be a barrier for those who are diagnosed with HIV and seek quality treatment and care services. Research shows transgender women with diagnosed HIV infection are less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy (ART) or achieve viral suppression. Furthermore, few health care providers receive adequate training or are knowledgeable about transgender health issues and their unique needs.”[11]

Furthermore, NASTAD echoed this concern in its issue brief, making a compelling case for open drug formulary programs that are more liberalized to serve transgender consumers: "ADAP formulary composition presents another opportunity to promote trans- inclusive care and treatment. Beyond the provision of ARVs, ADAPs play a critical role in supporting the availability of medications for many co-occurring needs of PLWH, including transgender transition-related medications."[12]

As of December 31, 2015, unfortunately only 16 ADAPs covered one or more FDA-approved transgender transition-related medications on their formulary.[13]

According to Marcus J. Hopkins, Project Director of the Community Access National Network's HIV/HCV Co-Infection Watch, there are 43 State ADAPs offering some form of coverage for HCV treatment. Of those programs, 36 have expanded their HCV coverage to include the regimens that serve as the current Standard of Care (SOC) for Hepatitis C treatment. Eight (8) programs offer only Basic Coverage and 13 programs offer No Coverage. Three (3) territories – American Samoa, Marshall Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands – are not accounted for in this data.

HCV is a common co-infection in people with HIV/AIDS. An estimated 200,000-300,000 people in the United States are co-infected with both HIV and HCV infections. Experts believe that about 25% of Americans with HIV also have HCV; conversely some 10% of people with HCV are thought to also have HIV.

In most states, people living with HIV/AIDS are well served by their ADAP but that doesn't mean consumers should settle on the status quo. According to Jen Laws, an independent policy consultant and an ADAP Advocacy Association board member, expanding the efficacy of the State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs requires both modernization in systems and expansive formularies to meet the health needs of target populations; from heart disease and diabetes to gender confirming hormone replacement therapies, ADAPs can help us close the gaps in care clients face else where and realize the true potential of the programs in working to end HIV.

Laws argued, "Today, we understand comprehensive approaches to chronic health needs result in greater client adherence and positive overall health outcomes, directly impacting efficacy of HIV specific treatment. We know meeting target population health needs is a necessary step in combating the epidemic, especially in an environment where these same populations are unlikely to get their health needs met in traditional markets. In the age of treatment as prevention, ADAPs have a unique opportunity to function at the corner of both prevention and patient care."

Related articles of potential interest:

• Don't Take VAT, sponsored by Theratechnologies
• Keep Your Pants On, sponsored by Napo Pharmaceuticals
• Talking to your Doctor About Symptoms, online survey of patients living with HIV conducted Oct 25-Nov 6, 2017, sponsored by Napo Pharmaceuticals
• TRANSGENDER HEALTH: Improving Access to Care Among Transgender Men & Women Living with HIV/AIDS under the AIDS Drug Assistance Program: Model Policy for Ryan White/ADAPs Serving Transgender Clients, published in April 2017 by the ADAP Advocacy Association
• INFOGRAPHIC: Improving Access to Care Among Transgender Men & Women Living with HIV/AIDS under the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, published in April 2017 by the ADAP Advocacy Association
• CROSSROADS: ADAP CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANSGENDER HEALTH, published in August 2016 by the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
• HIV/HCV Co-Infection Watch – March 2018, published in March 2018 by the Community Access National Network

__________

[1] Health Resources & Services Administration (2017, October). Part B: AIDS Drug Assistance Program. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://hab.hrsa.gov/about-ryan-white-hivaids-program/part-b-aids-drug-assistance-program.
[2] National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (2018, February 1); 2018 ADAP Formulary Database; National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD). Retrieved from https://www.nastad.org/adap-formulary-database.
[3] Health Resources & Services Administration (2017, October). Part B: AIDS Drug Assistance Program. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://hab.hrsa.gov/about-ryan-white-hivaids-program/part-b-aids-drug-assistance-program.
[4] Macsata, Brandon M. (2016, October 28). ADAP Blog. Why HIV Medical Treatment Guidelines Matter. ADAP Advocacy Association. Retrieved from http://adapadvocacyassociation.blogspot.com/2016/10/why-hiv-medical-treatment-guidelines.html.
[5] Macsata, Brandon M. (2016, October 28). ADAP Blog. Why HIV Medical Treatment Guidelines Matter. ADAP Advocacy Association. Retrieved from http://adapadvocacyassociation.blogspot.com/2016/10/why-hiv-medical-treatment-guidelines.html.
[6] Yahoo Finance (2017, December 12). HIV With Diarrhea Often Suffer in Silence. Business Wire. Retrieved from https://finance.yahoo.com/news/survey-finds-people-living-hiv-140000800.html.
[7] Yahoo Finance (2017, April 10). Jaguar Subsidiary Napo Pharmaceuticals Signs Agreement with the ADAP Crisis Task Force for Mytesi. Business Wire. Retrieved from https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jaguar-subsidiary-napo-pharmaceuticals-signs-130000636.html.
[8] U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016, April 18). HIV Among Transgender People. Retrieved from http://www.thebody.com/content/63509/hiv-among-transgender-people.html?ap=1200.
[9] Pund, Britten, Et al. (2016, August). CROSSROADS: ADAP CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANSGENDER HEALTH. National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors. Retrieved from https://www.nastad.org/sites/default/files/Crossroads-Trans-Health.pdf.
[10] U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016, April 18). HIV Among Transgender People. Retrieved from http://www.thebody.com/content/63509/hiv-among-transgender-people.html?ap=1200.
[11] U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016, April 18). HIV Among Transgender People. Retrieved from http://www.thebody.com/content/63509/hiv-among-transgender-people.html?ap=1200.
[12] Pund, Britten, Et al. (2016, August). CROSSROADS: ADAP CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANSGENDER HEALTH. National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors. Retrieved from https://www.nastad.org/sites/default/files/Crossroads-Trans-Health.pdf.
[13] Pund, Britten, Et al. (2016, August). CROSSROADS: ADAP CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANSGENDER HEALTH. National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors. Retrieved from https://www.nastad.org/sites/default/files/Crossroads-Trans-Health.pdf.

Grindr Fuels HIV Stigma & Fails the Most Basic Privacy Test

Guest Blog By: Marcus J. Hopkins, Blogger

Just last month, in March 2018, Grindr’s Director for Equality, Jack Harrison-Quintana, announced that the app would roll out a new feature: men who opted in would receive a reminder every three to six months to get tested for HIV, as well as receive the location information of the nearest testing site (McNeil, 2018).  “…few men will download health-oriented apps that make them feel shamed for missing a test,” Harrison-Quintana claimed. For the uninitiated, Grindr is a gay male hookup app that allows users to connect with others via their mobile devices. Users have the ability to include as much or as little personal information as they wish when creating and editing their profiles, including their HIV status and “last tested date.”

What he failed to mention, however, was that users’ HIV status with not one, but two other outside companies.

Photo Source: BusinesInsider.com

The two companies – Apptimize and Localytics – have been receiving some of the information that Grindr users choose to include in their profiles, including their HIV status and “last tested date” (Ghorayshi & Ray, 2018). BuzzFeed, who broke the story on April 02, 2018, independently verified a data analysis conducted by an outside research firm, SINTEF, who was commissioned to produce the report by Swedish public broadcaster, SVT, which first published the findings (Ghorayyshi & Ray).

This is just the latest HIV status-related debacle in recent years. In August 2017, the Community Access National Network’s HEAL Blog wrote about the inadvertent exposure of clients’ HIV status by insurance giants, Aetna and CVS/Caremark (Hopkins, 2017). Aetna, in January 2018, agreed to pay $17 million for their data breach that exposed that as many as 12,000 clients were taking HIV medications (Gordon, 2018). A Federal lawsuit was recently filed over CVS/Caremark’s release of protected client information when the company created a program identification number for each client with the letters ‘HIV’ in the number (Snell, 2018).

These kinds of breaches of privacy and public confidence should be easily avoidable. In 2018, it is so rare for other Western countries to inadvertently expose others’ HIV status, that it almost never occurs. When we hear of these stories, they frequently involve companies based in the United States, in no small part because of how lax are the repercussions for this kind of exposure. On the part of Aetna, sheer laziness led to the exposure of clients; with CVS, stupidity seems to be the cause. With Grindr, however, there are more pernicious factors at play, and honestly, there are likely to be few legal repercussions for the company in the U.S., because of our extremely lax privacy laws.

In 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal an Obama-era law that demanded ISPs obtain permission to share users’ personal information (Lee, 2017). While this law pertained only to ISPs and not other companies like Facebook or Google, the sentiment is clear: your personal information is up for grabs. Many European nations have incredibly strict privacy laws that require explicit informed consent before sharing any data with third parties; the U.S., however, favors a stupidly “free market,” where the sentiment is “Caveat Emptor” – “Let the buyer beware.”

Photo Source: Pinterest - AIDS/HIV HISTORY

This latest revelation that Grindr was sharing data likely isn’t illegal, in the same way that Facebook sharing data with Cambridge Analytica likely isn’t illegal. For people living with HIV, these kinds of data sharing arrangements help to create and perpetuate fears that their private information will be exposed to others without their direct knowledge. Our laws and system allow companies like Grindr and Facebook to post miles-long user agreements filled with legalese that is barely comprehensible to people with college education, much less those who just want to hop on an app and hook up with the nearest person they consider hot.

It’s time for a rethink in our country of how our personal information is protected, because right now, the deck is wholly stacked against us.

References:

• Ghorayshi, A. & Ray, Sri. (2018, April 02). Grindr Is Letting Other Companies See User HIV Status And Location Data. New York, NY: BuzzFeed, Inc.: BuzzFeed News. Retrieved from: https://www.buzzfeed.com/azeenghorayshi/grindr-hiv-status-privacy?utm_term=.inno6bmJk#.kwOZAPrqR
• Gordon, E. (2018, January 17). Aetna Agrees To Pay $17 Million In HIV Privacy Breach. Philadelphia, PA: National Public Radio: WHYY Philadelphia: Shots. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/01/17/572312972/aetna-agrees-to-pay-17-million-in-hiv-privacy-breach
• Hopkins, M.J. (2017, August 28). HIPAA: Healthcare mailers violate privacy rights of people living with HIV. Washington, DC: The Community Access National Network: HEAL Blog. Retrieved from: https://communityaccessnationalnetwork.wordpress.com/2017/08/28/1498/
• Lee, D. (2017, March 29). Anger as US internet privacy law scrapped. Los Angeles, CA: BBC News: Technology. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39427026
• McNeil, D.G., Jr. (2018, March 26). Grindr App to Offer H.I.V. Test Reminders. New York, NY: The New York Times: Health: Global Health. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/health/grindr-hiv-test-reminder.html
• Snell, E. (2018, April 03). Federal Lawsuit Filed Following Alleged CVS Health Data Breach. Danvers, MA: Xtelligent Medica, LLC: HealthIT Security: News. Retrieved from: https://healthitsecurity.com/news/federal-lawsuit-filed-following-alleged-cvs-health-data-breach

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.

Rhode Island Advocates Score 'YUGE' Victory Against Insurance Company Gimmicks

By: Brandon M. Macsata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy Association

Last month, advocates in the Ocean State fought back against proposed legislation in the Rhode Island General Assembly that would have prohibited patients from utilizing manufacturer coupons and drug discount cards to lower their out-of-pocket drug costs. S.2532 was a thinly veiled threat orchestrated by the insurance companies and other private health plan payers, which would have resulted in patients paying more for their prescription drugs. Such gimmicks disproportionately impact people living with chronic health conditions who rely on specialty drugs, such as HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C.

In early March the legislation was introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The Committee, however, ultimately recommended the measure be held for further study after strong pushback from the HIV community (and others).

On March 27th, opponents testified against S.2532 during a hearing convened by the Committee. The HIV Health Care Access Working Group (HHCAWG) — which is part of the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP) — also sent a letter opposing S.2532, and the state legislators took notice.

Manufacturer coupons and drug discount cards, commonly known as accumulator adjustment programs, were highlighted in a recent ADAP Blog, "Rx Drug Coupon Concerns Pit Prices Against Patients." The smoke and mirrors being perpetrated against patients is fueled by the insurance industry's misinformation, as well as their hopes that most patients don't take the time to read, and let alone understand, their policy documents.

Photo Source: Patients Rising

The AIDS Institute (TAI) has been actively monitoring efforts by insurance companies to restrict access to care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS — including efforts to limit accumulator adjustment programs. Carl Schmid, TAI's Deputy Executive Director, summarized concerns over limiting such programs:

“It is already difficult for people living with HIV and others who want to take PrEP to access their medications due to insurance benefit practices such as high co-insurance and deductibles, this will just compound the situation. It is time for us to be loud and strong, and fight back. People lives are on the line.”

What happened in Rhode Island was a victory for people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as patients in general. But this issue isn't going away any time soon.  The ADAP Advocacy Association has expressed strong concern over the ongoing gimmicks by the insurance industry and health plan payers on this policy issue.

Related articles of potential interest:

• Opponents: Bill limiting drug coupons, discount cards would endanger lives, published on 03/28/18 in the Providence Journal
• New Let’s Talk About Cost ads highlight how copay accumulator programs could leave patients financially exposed, published on 03/27/18 in The Catalyst.
• Have You Heard of the Co-Pay Accumulator, published on 03/26/18 in Patients Rising.
• Copay Accumulators: Costly Consequences of a New Cost-Shifting Pharmacy Benefit, published on 01/03/18 in Drug Channels Institute