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.
Co-signed letter to the leadership of the US Senate regarding the introduced Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions To End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act.
Comments on proposed formulary changes to Oregon’s Medicaid program to the Oregon Health Authority.
Comments on proposed revisions to the Older Americans Act in the context of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and concerns regarding quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).
Comments on proposed revisions to the Older Americans Act regarding LGBTQI+ community and other considerations.
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.
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.
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.
In Washington state, a collective sense of relief was felt when the session’s final gavel came down on April 30th.
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.
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.
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.
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).