Washington Wire: December 2021
As we close out 2021, we want to reflect on HFA’s policy agenda: how our policy priorities shaped our advocacy efforts over the past year and what we expect and plan for 2022.HFA’s policy agenda always centers on access – access to treatments and care, access to quality health coverage, access to relief from ever-higher […]
Washington Wire: December 2019
On December 18, 2019, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its long-awaited ruling in Texas v. United States, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The 5th Circuit ruling upholds (in part) an earlier lower court decision that declared the ACA to be unconstitutional, due to Congress’ 2017 enactment of […]
Washington Wire: November 2019
Open Enrollment for 2020 insurance plans ends soon – don’t miss out! The Open Enrollment Period for 2020 insurance plans ends soon for Medicare plans, for individual insurance plans (in most states), and for many employer health insurance programs. It is important to take action during this timeframe to assure you have health coverage for 2020.Remember […]
Washington Wire: October 2019
Open Enrollment begins for 2020 insurance plans. The Open Enrollment Period is a time frame each year when health insurance plans are required by law to accept applications from new plan enrollees regardless of their health history. This also is the time when you can choose to stay with your existing health plan if it is the right one […]
Washington Wire: September 2019
The drug pricing debate in Washington resumed when Congress returned from its summer recess – though many observers question whether Congress will be able to pass legislation this year, due to policy disagreements between the majority and minority parties; the short period of time available before the 2020 elections; and the spillover effects of the impeachment […]
Washington Wire: August 2019
New rule causes concern over legal immigrants’ use of Medicaid and certain other public benefits En Español Patient groups representing millions of Americans with serious health conditions voiced strong concern about a U.S. Department of Homeland Security final rule released on August 12, 2019. The new rule directs DHS to broadly expand the “public charge” evaluation […]
Washington Wire: July 2019
FEATURED STORIES Product recall announced; patient organizations are in ongoing communications with manufacturer Bayer announced the recall of two lots of Kogenate®Â FS antihemophilic factor (recombinant) 2000 I.U. vials on July 19, 2019. Bayer announced that 3000 I.U. of one product (Jivi), past its expiration date, had been mislabeled as another product (2000 I.U. of Kogenate […]
Washington Wire: June 2019
Featured Stories: HFA held a Patient Fly-in and Virtual Hill Day on June 10, 2019. Twenty-four community members from 14 different states came to Washington, D.C. to tell their lawmakers about living with bleeding disorders – and to explain what people in our community need in terms of quality, affordable health coverage. Fly-in participants also urged […]
Washington Wire: May 2019
Featured Story: CMS decides against allowing Medicare plans to limit coverage of “protected class” drugs. This past month brought some welcome news from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. On May 16, CMS released a final rule on drug pricing in the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D programs. In that final rule, […]
Washington Wire: April 2019
Featured Story: Some relief ahead from accumulator adjusters. Finally some good news regarding accumulator adjusters! Patient advocates, including HFA, have been warning lawmakers that accumulator adjuster programs threaten access to care for people with chronic health conditions. In recent weeks, state and federal lawmakers signaled they have heard this message and took steps to rein […]
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