Hemophilia Federation of America is a national nonprofit organization that assists, educates and advocates for the bleeding disorders community.
Winter weather has always raised my hemophilia mom radar. Icy sidewalks make me very nervous and I鈥檝e yelled out, 鈥淚ce ahead,鈥 many times over the last 15 years in warning to Thomas. But as we all know, we can鈥檛 be with our kids all day, every day and accidents are bound to happen. […]
Dear Addy, I recently saw HFA post on Facebook about an advocacy day on Capitol Hill. I wasn鈥檛 able to participate on the day of the event; can I still get involved? Signed, Advocacy Amplified Dear Advocacy, Yes! The posts you saw were in conjunction with HFA鈥檚 annual Patient Fly-in and Virtual Hill Day on […]
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 following is an excerpt of a press release from Bayer. Read the press release in its entirety here. Bayer will present new data highlighting clinical outcomes from its hemophilia A portfolio, which include long-term data from the PROTECT VIII investigational study evaluating use of Jivi庐 antihemophilic factor (recombinant) PEGylated-aucl. These data will be presented […]
Our son, Michael, recently surprised us with the news that he was going to get a tattoo! I know, I know, he is 26 years old and can make his own decisions.聽But he still has severe hemophilia B with inhibitors. I got that knot in my stomach that all moms get 鈥 it鈥檚 a […]
Earlier this month, HFA introduced you to Jasmin and Dylan, our summer Policy and Government Relations Interns. Jasmin and Dylan have been busy in D.C., attending congressional hearings and learning the ropes of working for a national nonprofit organization. During their second week, Jasmin and Dylan experienced first-hand the planning and execution of our sixth […]
I have to admit this blog gave me extreme anxiety about writing.聽Not in the respect that my father (Thomas Gibson), my husband (Alan) nor my father-in-law (James Hooper) are horrible fathers. It鈥檚 just very difficult to express my absolute gratitude to these individuals.聽These three fathers and grandfathers play such an important and vital role both […]
Hemophilia Federation of America is pleased to introduce our Summer 2019 Policy and Government Relations Interns, Jasmin Wyatt and Dylan Edwards. As members of the bleeding disorders community, they understand the mission of HFA firsthand. Jasmin and Dylan were selected for the internship because of their leadership qualities and interest in the field of policy […]
Featured Story: CMS decides against allowing Medicare plans to limit coverage of 鈥減rotected class鈥 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, […]
This blog is translated in English below. Este pasado d铆a de las madres celebr茅 mi a帽o n煤mero 23 de ser madre. 隆No s茅 ni como esto pas贸 tan r谩pido! En una pesta帽ar de ojos mis hijas han crecido y se han independizado, pero soy una mam谩 muy feliz. Criar a hijas involucra mucho tiempo […]
Dear Addy, I attended HFA鈥檚 Symposium in San Diego and really enjoyed the history exhibit. Is there a way for me to access the timeline? I鈥檇 like to read more about the history of the bleeding disorders community. Signed, Advocate for the Ages 聽Dear Advocate, Yes! You can access the latest version of HFA鈥檚 historical […]
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 […]
If you鈥檝e ever attended HFA鈥檚 Symposium, you probably know that the mom鈥檚 rap session is usually one of the most popular sessions and quite often has the most profound conversations. If you haven鈥檛 been 鈥 a mom鈥檚 rap session is just that 鈥 a chance for moms to sit around the room and talk about […]
Most that know me will tell you I do everything for my kiddos. That I spoil them. That I鈥檓 always driving them to after school activities or going to the park, for walks, bike rides, etc. I rarely say no and let them try whatever sports and activities they want to do. I spend […]
This past month we had the fight of our lives. My employee insurance runs February through January and my employer offered a new insurance plan this year. Much to our dismay, the insurance would not cover my son鈥檚 factor medication. Our insurance wanted our son to fail on three out of four factor products […]
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 […]
The following is from the FDA MedWatch. Read the recall notice in its entirety here. Alvogen Inc. is voluntarily recalling two lots of Fentanyl Transdermal System 12 mcg/h transdermal patches to the consumer level. A small number of cartons labeled 12 mcg/h Fentanyl Transdermal System patches contained 50 mcg/h patches. The 50 mcg/h patches that […]
Dear Addy- I am having a horrific time with my insurance company getting a prior authorization approved. I know I should call Project CALLS, but I simply don鈥檛 have time to be on the phone with the insurance company and Project CALLS. Why is it so important that I let HFA know what鈥檚 going on […]
Life is full seasons, parenting is full of seasons, and most importantly raising a child with a bleeding disorder is full of seasons. Most often when I look back over the seasons the most obvious of seasons are that of survival, like getting from one day to the next or one walking through a […]
17 Patient Groups Urge Appeals Court to Uphold Health Care Law Loss of Patient Protections Would Raise Barriers to Health Insurance HFA joined a group of seventeen patient advocacy organizations in filing an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief today in case of Texas v. United States, pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals […]
Protections for people with pre-existing conditions. You may recall that last December, a federal district court ruled in Texas v. United Statesthat the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional in its entirety. This ruling, if upheld, would: eliminate important protections for people with pre-existing conditions; end the ACA鈥檚 Medicaid expansion; abolish the requirement that health plans […]
I came back from HFA鈥檚 2018 Symposium pumped. 鈥淭ogether We Rock鈥 was an experience that left me much better equipped to face the many challenges of having a child with a bleeding disorder. Most of all I met other moms that go through similar situations with their own children; some were even from Puerto […]
Dear Addy, I鈥檝e been sharing HFA鈥檚 Facts a Day about Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month, but I want to do more. How can I help raise awareness about bleeding disorders? Signed, Ready to Activate Dear Ready to Activate, It鈥檚 wonderful to hear that you are motivated to help spread the word about bleeding disorders! As a […]
Download this Press Release here. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 15, 2019 Hemophilia Federation of America Recognizes Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month Monthlong Activities Raise Public Awareness for Bleeding Disorders Washington, D.C.聽鈥 More than 30 years ago, President Ronald Regan designated the month of March as Hemophilia Awareness Month to bring awareness and attention to those living […]
Parent teacher conferences are synonymous with an interrogation, grilling or even a public debate. I spent about 12 years being on the other side of that debate. I was the one calling the shots, telling parents what their children鈥檚 strengths and weaknesses were academically, socially and behaviorally. I was comfortable having the tough conversations […]
It was 2002 when I married Harry, my high school sweetheart. Even then, I never discussed my dad with him because I had to keep my promise. I promised my dad who passed away when I was only 16 to never talk about hemophilia, AIDS, none of it. Harry put the pieces together though, […]
Featured Story: State Legislative Sessions Pick Up Steam In last month鈥檚 edition of the Washington Wire, we wrote about steps some states are taking with respect to their Medicaid programs. Here is a brief update on some of the Medicaid-related developments that have happened since then. Utah: the state legislature and Governor acted to override […]
Dear Addy, I use a manufacturer copay assistance program to help me meet the out-of-pocket costs associated with my clotting factor product. My insurer just notified me that it will no longer apply that assistance to my deductible and out-of-pocket maximums! Can they do that? Signed, Distressed Over Deductibles Dear Deductibles, You have run up […]
鈥淲atch out for my brother. He鈥檚 a bleeder,鈥 Logan will often say when we are at an interactive birthday party. Logan is Maddox鈥檚 5-year-old brother. He is extremely protective of him. Whenever we are at an event Logan will do his best to 鈥減rotect鈥 his little brother from anyone pushing him too hard or potentially […]
The following is an excerpt from a press release from Roche. Read it in its entirety here. Roche today announced that it has joined the World Federation of Hemophilia Humanitarian Aid Program, a landmark initiative leading the effort to change the lack of access to care and treatment for people with inherited bleeding disorders in […]
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