Hemophilia Federation of America is a national nonprofit organization that assists, educates and advocates for the bleeding disorders community.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Click Below to Translate Page to Spanish. Federal insurance rules proposed for 2021 Plan Year. Every year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes a federal rule (the 鈥淣otice of Benefits and Payment Parameters,鈥 or NBPP) to govern operations of the ACA marketplaces and ACA health plans for the coming year. The 2021 […]
Click Below to Translate Page to Spanish. HFA and NHF co-hosted a Safety Summit in Washington, D.C., over three days at the end of January. The summit was convened in recognition and response to community concerns arising from a series of drug safety reports in 2019. Those safety incidents rocked the hemophilia community 鈥 and […]
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鈥 2017 enactment of […]
HFA and NHF are pleased to share a brief update with the community concerning a recent meeting we had with the FDA as well as a number of additional resources that the FDA provided after the call.聽 HFA and NHF will continue to update the bleeding disorders community as any further information develops. Please note […]
Featured Stories: HFA held a Patient Fly-in and Virtual Hill Day聽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 鈥 and to explain what people in our community need in terms of quality, affordable health coverage. Fly-in participants also urged […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule yesterday on drug pricing in the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D programs. In its final rule, CMS chose not聽to implement a harmful change that it had initially put forward 鈥 a change strongly opposed by HFA and numerous other patient […]
FEATURED STORY What to Watch in the States in 2019 鈥 State Medicaid Trends Legislative sessions have begun in all but four states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Nevada begin sessions in the months ahead).聽 As lawmakers begin to tackle the numerous issues they need to address in the coming months, let鈥檚 look at what to […]
Featured stories: Healthcare was a driving issue for many voters in the 2018 mid-term elections. The results of the 2018 election are in and we now know that the 116th聽Congress will be a divided Congress 鈥 聽a Republican Senate and a Democratic House. Will the new Congress do anything to impact access to meaningful healthcare? […]
Featured stories: New HHS policy could diminish protections for people who depend on quality, affordable health insurance. On Oct. 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new guidance spelling out how states can win approval to waive various Affordable Care Act requirements. This arcane new policy could seriously impact protections for patients […]
Many in our community have questions about a recent Slate magazine聽article聽that reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is reallocating money from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to help defray costs of the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement as a result of current immigration policy. The Ryan White Program, named for […]
As noted in our July 10, 2017 story, Bioverativ has filed complaints in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and with the U.S. International Trade Commission alleging that Idelvion, a novel factor IX albumin fusion protein developed by CSL Behring, infringes upon three Bioverativ patents. HFA, in collaboration with the National Hemophilia […]
Earlier this summer, we introduced you to Eric and Camila, our summer Policy Interns. They have been busy all over DC, attending Congressional hearings, executive briefings, and much more. Recently, they got to experience first-hand the planning and execution of our 3nd Annual Patient Fly-In. Below is their take on the week. _________________________________________________________________________________ What was […]
HFA is proud to be part of the Patients for Biologics Safety & Access (PBSA). PBSA is a coalition of 24 patient advocacy organizations dedicated to protecting patient access to safe and effective biologics. Together, this coalition represents millions of Americans who suffer from serious, life-threatening diseases that are difficult to diagnose and treat. As […]
Earlier this summer we welcomed our summer policy & advocacy interns to our DC office. Adam and Matthew are part of the bleeding disorders community and were chosen to participate in a 10-week internship because of their leadership qualities and interest in the field of policy and advocacy. Throughout the summer, Adam and Matthew: Gained […]
On June 17, 2015, we hosted our 2nd Annual Patient Fly-In in Washington, DC聽alongside an online聽Virtual Hill Day聽to gain support for bill聽HR 1600, The Patients鈥 Access to Treatment Act聽in the US House and Senate, and other issues like聽the ability for third-party non-profits to help make payments on behalf of patients, and improving access to skilled […]
On Monday, September 22,聽several members of the bleeding disorders community came out to share their experiences with bleeding disorders treatment with the FDA.* HFA worked with partners like NORD, PPTA, and NHF to ensure that our community was effectively represented.聽Patients and advocates of every age, every background, and with several different conditions came out […]
On Monday, September 22, several members of the bleeding disorders community came out to聽share their experiences with bleeding disorders treatment with the FDA. HFA worked with partners like NORD, PPTA, and NHF to ensure that our community was effectively represented.聽Patients and advocates of every age, every background, and with several different conditions came out to […]
On Monday, September 22,聽several members of the bleeding disorders community came out to聽share their experiences with bleeding disorders treatment with the FDA. HFA worked with partners like NORD, PPTA, and NHF to ensure that our community was effectively represented.聽Patients and advocates of every age, every background, and with several different conditions came out to share […]
On Monday, September 22,聽several members of the bleeding disorders community came out to聽share their experiences with bleeding disorders treatment with the FDA. HFA worked with partners like NORD, PPTA, and NHF to ensure that our community was effectively represented.聽Patients and advocates of every age, every background, and with several different conditions came out to share […]
On Monday, September 22, members of the bleeding disorders community came out to聽share their experiences with bleeding disorders treatment with the FDA. HFA worked with partners like NORD, PPTA, and NHF to ensure that our community was effectively represented.聽Patients and advocates of every age, every background, and with several different conditions came out to share […]
Every year, Cora Higson fills out a sheaf of forms and waits several long, anxious days to learn whether a charity will pay for the drug she needs to breathe. The medication 鈥 Tracleer 鈥 is so essential, Higson says, that she is supposed to call her doctor immediately if she misses a dose. But […]
On June 18, 2014, we hosted a successful Hill Day in Washington, DC聽alongside an online Virtual Hill Day聽to gain support for bill HR 460, The Patients鈥 Access to Treatment Act聽in the US Senate, and other issues like聽the ability for third-party non-profits to help make payments on behalf of patients, and funding for the Centers for […]
Dear Addy, What skills and experience should I look for in a hematologist? My son was recently diagnosed with hemophilia and I鈥檓 willing to move to another city, so my son can get the best care possible. Signed, Diligent Patient _____________________ Dear Diligent, Most importantly you want to make sure that all of the hematologists […]
In January 1983, the Centers for Disease Control gathered doctors, scientists, and representatives from the pharmacological industry and the bleeding disorders community in an attempt to find the means for halting the spread of AIDS. They were unable to arrive at a conclusion. During this meeting, Dr. Donald Francis of the CDC stood up, pounded […]
Dear Addy, My daughter with von Willebrand disease has health insurance but I don鈥檛 have health insurance for myself. What will happen if I decide not to purchase any? Coverage Unsure ____________________________ Dear Unsure, The deadline to purchase insurance without facing a penalty is March 31, 2014. Because of the individual mandate under the Affordable […]
Dear Addy, It is open health insurance enrollment time for my company. Do I still have to worry about qualifying for coverage because I have a pre-existing condition? Open Enrollment Jitters in Minnesota ___________________________ Dear Jitters, The cold in Minnesota should make you shake more than the issue of pre-existing conditions in 2014. Starting in […]
If you have hemophilia, multiple sclerosis or any number of other hard-to-treat diseases, the cost of your medications alone could reach into six figures, depending on your insurance coverage. 鈥淚t鈥檚 roughly $15,000 a month, and from that I鈥檓 lucky to have good insurance so we have good co-pay structure, co-insurance,” said Nick Vizzoca, whose 13-year-old […]
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