Advocacy Briefs
The Coalition is always on the lookout for changes in policy and current events that could impact the health status of LGBTQ+ individuals, or influence access to and utilization of health care within the LGBTQ+ community. These Advocacy Briefs summarize recent news items, along with specific action steps you can take to advocate for LGBTQ+ health equity.
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Older Americans Act Comments
Comments on proposed revisions to the Older Americans Act regarding LGBTQI+ community and other considerations.
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The Neurocognitive Effects of Aging with HIV
Advancements in treatment for HIV have enabled PLWH to live long lives and by 2030, an estimated 70% of PLWH will be 50 years or older. Unfortunately, there have been many cases where PLWH develop cognitive impairments because of accelerated normal aging.
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May is Hepatitis Awareness Month
The CDC recommends sharing information about all the Hepatitis treatment and therapeutic options that are already widely available. They’re also asking the public to promote the CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool, which recommends vaccines based on age, health, and occupation.
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Oregon State Legislature to Allow Pharmacists to Prescribe PrEP and PEP drugs
Along the lines of expanding access to (and better utilization of) routine care and prevention services, the Oregon State Legislature is poised to pass a bill that allows registered pharmacists to prescribe HIV pre-and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) drugs.
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Washington State Legislature Moves to Address Medicaid Drug Access and Creates STI/PrEP/PEP Workgroup
In Washington state, a collective sense of relief was felt when the session’s final gavel came down on April 30th.
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Biden Administration Reinstates ACA Protections for Transgender and All LGBTQ People
On Monday, May 10th, the Biden administration reinstated Obama-era protections included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) for transgender and all LGBTQ people. This move undoes the Trump administration’s reversal of these protections.
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CMS Administrator Nomination Stalls
The confirmation of President Joe Biden’s nomination to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was delayed by top Senate Republican, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), over the recent Texas Medicaid waiver decision.
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Gilead Sciences Proposes Change to Patient Assistance Program
Gilead Sciences (Gilead) proposed a change to its Advancing Access Patient Assistance Program (PAP), which would require all PAP enrollees to receive their HIV medications (treatment and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) through mail or courier delivery. This change poses significant challenges for 340B Covered Entities.
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Democrats Reintroduce H.R.3., their Lower Drug Pricing Act
H.R.3 would allow the federal government to negotiate directly with drug companies as a way of lowering certain Medicare drug prices; and would give the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) broad authority in determining the price of those particular drugs (250 of them).
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A Freeze on the Trump-Era Drug “Rebate Rule” Stalls
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has issued a court order delaying the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) rule #0936-AA08 for almost two years. The rule, which changes payments to Pharmacy Benefit Managers in ways that disallow fluctuations based on the price of a drug, was slated to take effect…
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TennCare III Medicaid Program
CMS approved a waiver request from Tennessee that transitions TennCare II enrollees into the TennCare III Medicaid program. It’s been met with community opposition over fears that this program sends the message that “Modified Medicaid Block Grants” and capped spending for enrollees, are (back) on the menu.
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