Page 5 - BloodBrothers
P. 5
ABOUT HFA Based in Washington, DC, HFA works in
conjunction with other national and state
Hemophilia Federation of America, Inc. (HFA) organizations on behalf of families living with
is a patient education, patient services and bleeding disorders. Its officers and staff maintain
advocacy organization serving the rare bleeding a highly visible presence, representing the
disorders community. HFA is exclusively focused bleeding disorders community on Capitol Hill
on the bleeding disorders patient and caregiver and speaking regularly before the Food and
community. Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, and other key agencies. HFA is
In the 1980s, approximately 90% of people with committed to community education and provides
severe hemophilia were infected with the HIV tools and resources to give the community a voice
virus, and almost all patients with hemophilia at state and federal legislatures.
who used factor products before 1988 were infected
with Hepatitis C (HCV). Blood-borne infections HFA comprises a national organization office
were a major complication of treatment for and 43 state and local community-based
people living with hemophilia. At the time, factor affiliated organizations made up of numerous
products were manufactured using large plasma- men, women, children, moms, dads, siblings,
donor pools and the process lacked specific tests for grandparents and friends impacted by a bleeding
infectious agents. This lack resulted in the tragic disorder. Additionally, HFA works with many
loss of many thousands of lives and brought to the non-affected individuals and organizations, such
forefront the need to change the manufacturing as healthcare and therapy providers, specialty
and screening processes. From this devastation, pharmacies, donors, and insurers who play a
the Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) was significant role in the community.
born and thus a voice for the patient community.
HFA programs include a wide range of adult
HFA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization outreach initiatives, as well as broad-based
incorporated in 1994 to address the evolving needs support for families living with hemophilia, von
of the bleeding disorders community. HFA serves Willebrand disease and other bleeding disorders.
as a community-based organization, committed
to championing the needs of families living with
chronic, often painful, and debilitating bleeding
disorders. HFA advocates for safe, affordable,
and obtainable therapies and health coverage.
Ultimately, HFA seeks a better quality of life for all
persons with bleeding disorders.
BLOOD BROTHERHOOD 5