Hemophilia Federation of America is a national nonprofit organization that assists, educates and advocates for the bleeding disorders community.
State Election Results Republican dominance in state elections could hinder new Democratic health initiatives Going into the 2020聽election, Democrats expected a 鈥渂lue wave鈥 at the state level that would build upon substantial gains in 2018, when they won back most of the record number of legislative seats they had lost since 2010.聽 Democrats had high […]
Hemophilia Federation of America is appalled by the recent violence at the United States Capitol. Each time our community has visited the Capitol to advocate on behalf of bleeding disorders, it has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the democratic process set forth in the Constitution. However, the events showed […]
As we enter the new year, there are good reasons to hope the U.S. may soon round the corner on COVID-19. In the meantime, though, we all still need to follow the guidelines of our public health authorities: stay home if sick, practice social distancing, avoid indoor settings, wear masks, and wash our hands. Please […]
Dear Addy, I鈥檓 seeing a lot about the 2020 Election results and it is all very confusing. Does HFA have a comprehensive resource that I can use to better understand the outcomes of this year鈥檚 election. Signed, Dear Constituent, Due to COVID-19, in some states the manner in which people voted may have changed to […]
More than a dozen patient groups representing millions of Americans with serious and chronic health conditions are urging the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to preserve protections in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) patients receiving health care services and restore translation notices […]
HFA鈥檚 virtual 2020 Patient Fly-in took place over the week of Nov. 16.聽 Sixteen community members connected with their lawmakers via phone and Zoom to describe what it鈥檚 like to live with a bleeding disorder 鈥 and to explain what people in this community need in terms of quality, affordable health coverage. Fly-in participants also […]
Dear Addy, I know that open enrollment for health insurance begins Nov. 1, 2020. At the same time, I鈥檓 hearing about a Supreme Court case that could overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA)! As a person with a bleeding disorder, what should I do about health insurance for 2021? Signed, Anxious About Insurance Dear Anxious, […]
Due to ongoing concerns regarding public gatherings and the impact COVID-19 had on in-person legislative visits, Hemophilia Federation of America restructured its annual Patient Fly-In and Congressional Reception experience to an online campaign that took place over the course Nov. 16-20. With that in mind, Congressional visits by patients took place virtually over Nov. 19-20. […]
Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions and Coverage Standards at Risk Twenty patient groups representing millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to prioritize patient protections, including those for people with pre-existing conditions, when it hears oral arguments Tuesday in the case of California v. Texas (previously Texas v. United States). 聽The […]
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead To find an example of the type of group Margaret Mead speaks about in her famous quote, look no further than our bleeding disorders community. From the 1990s with the passage […]
On October 30th, 2020, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) held a public meeting to discuss its evidence report on therapies for hemophilia A. ICER is an independent and non-partisan research organization that evaluates the clinical and economic value of prescription drugs, medical tests, and other healthcare and healthcare delivery innovations. For this […]
Open Enrollment begins for 2021 insurance plans Open Enrollment聽is a time frame each year when health insurance plans聽are required by law to accept applications from聽new plan聽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 for you. […]
Dear Addy, It鈥檚 been an extremely stressful year due to COVID-19. Elections are coming up fast and I鈥檓 not sure what steps I need to take to vote. Any help? Ready To Vote Dear Ready, I agree this year has presented a lot of new challenges for everyone and learning new ways to cope. As […]
Dear Addy, One of my favorite things to do is to learn about different health policies and legislation that impacts people living with a bleeding disorder. Right now, I have been limited to only information I can find in my state and Congress. I would like to learn more about what goes on in […]
Update on ACA lawsuit The death of eminent Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18th brought renewed attention to the fate of the Affordable Care Act. As previously reported, a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ACA (California v. Texas) is pending in the Supreme Court. Because Justice Ginsburg was considered a likely […]
Policy and advocacy work is increasingly important at the state level. In an effort to keep you informed about the work happening on the ground at the local level, HFA is debuting a quarterly update, “State of the States.” Stay up-to-date and read about the work happening close to you! The COVID emergency has upended […]
As a part of the HFA Policy and Government Education internship, the interns are tasked with creating a final capstone project encompassing what they have learned, culminating in the creation of advocacy and policy programming that is aimed at a young adult audience. The capstone is fully intern-driven, from concept to execution, with support […]
By Will Hubbert As sad as it is to write, my time as an intern at HFA has come to an end. I鈥檝e loved my time here, so I want to use this last reflection as an opportunity to thank my mentors and recommend the program. HFA鈥檚 internship is a truly amazing experience, and […]
Policy and advocacy sessions sparked robust discussions at HFA鈥檚 recently concluded 2020 Symposium! Thank you to all who attended 鈥 it was wonderful to 鈥渟ee鈥 you at our virtual event. For those who couldn鈥檛 join us in real time, you can still view the recorded sessions on your own schedule for the next few months […]
Dear Addy, This will be my first year going off to college and I鈥檓 a little bit nervous about it. The prospect of traveling hundreds of miles away from home and my HTC was already daunting, and COVID has only made this big transition feel even bigger. What can I do to make […]
Click Below to Translate Page to Spanish. On July 21, 2020, Ferring Pharmaceuticals issued a voluntary recall of Stimate (desmopressin) nasal spray due to 鈥渟uperpotency鈥 鈥 in other words, amounts of desmopressin being higher than specified. Stimate is used to treat von Willebrand disease (VWD) and mild hemophilia A. It is licensed and distributed […]
Click Below to Translate Page to Spanish. Product recall announced On July 21, CSL Behring and Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced a聽recall聽of multiple lots of Stimate (desmopressin),聽in the United States and in other countries around the world. The recall was prompted by the manufacturer鈥檚 discovery of out-of-specification levels of the active ingredient in the marketed product. This聽announcement […]
Dear Addy, My high school sweetheart and I are in our senior year of college and recently began a conversation about life after school. Are there any resources for us to learn more about starting a family when you know you are a carrier or have a history of bleeding disorders in your family?聽 Signed, […]
Earlier this summer, we introduced you to Will and Tameelah, our summer Policy and Government Education interns. Both young adults have been active in their local bleeding disorders community and are passionate about keeping their peers involved. This week we asked Tameelah and Will to share how they want to make their mark in our […]
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services releases rule paring back anti-discrimination provisions On June 12th, the HHS Office of Civil Rights released a final rule聽re-interpreting anti-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The new rule removes explicit patient protections against discrimination by health care providers and insurers. HFA joined with twenty-eight other patient and […]
My name is Tameelah Dawson. I am 21 years old from Lexington, S.C., and currently a senior at Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C., pursing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology. I have been heavily active in the hemophilia community for well more than five years. I鈥檝e served as a junior board member for Hemophilia South Carolina […]
HFA joined with twenty-eight other patient and health advocacy groups to issue the following statement 聽regarding a final rule released by the U.S. Office of Civil Rights/HHS on Friday, June 12th. The rule, interpreting anti-discrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act, removes explicit patient protections against discrimination by health care providers and insurers. The groups鈥 […]
Dear Addy, Each year, I travel to Washington, D.C., and my state capitol to meet with my legislators and members of Congress to discuss issues that are most important to the bleeding disorders community. Due to COVID-19, I have heard that in-person visits are no longer viable options. How can I make sure my voice […]
Click Below to Translate Page to Spanish. Federal rule allows health plans to discount manufacturer copay assistance. On May 7, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule that affects individuals who rely on聽patient copay assistance programs. The HHS rule (the 鈥2021 Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters,鈥 or NBPP) allows […]
Dear Addy- I recently learned I am eligible to receive an Economic Impact Payment or 鈥渟timulus check鈥. While I have not received any funds yet, I have received several voicemails stating that I am required by law to provide personal banking information, my social security number and pay a fee before I can receive any […]
Sign up for E-mails, Dateline Magazine, and other ways to stay connected.