Participants in the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA)’s first Advocacy Town Hall selected PHA’s top legislative priority for this year: protecting patient access to charitable assistance.
The March 21 town hall-style webinar featured an update on our advocacy efforts by Jaeger Spratt, PHA’s advocacy and treatment access program manager.
As part of its efforts to protect patient access to charitable assistance, PHA will work to increase congressional support for the Helping Ensure Lower Patient Copays Act (HELP Copays Act). The bill aims to close a loophole that allows insurers to “double dip.” That means they accept copayments from third parties, such as charitable assistance grants, but they don’t apply those payments to patient deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums for the year.
The town hall also focused on another legislative priority: oxygen access. PHA is working with a coalition of patient advocacy organizations that seek to prioritize patient-centered care for supplemental oxygen users. Legislation expected to be introduced later this year would demand accountability from supplemental oxygen suppliers and introduce standardized documentation to ensure predictable and adequate reimbursement for supplemental oxygen.
Want to join PHA’s next Town Hall? Subscribe to our monthly Advocacy Action Alert newsletter to stay in the know. Feeling inspired to take action right now? Send a message to your legislators from PHA’s Advocacy Action Center.
