PNWBD monitors legislation that affects the bleeding disorders community and advocates for changes in policy when needed. We work hard to keep up to date on issues and work to educate our local politicians and health care officials about bleeding disorders and the resources for those affected to maintain the quality of life.
Access to Affordable Medication | Support HB 4113
House Bill 4113
in the News
Disability Rights Oregon
It’s time to ask your legislator to support HB 4113 that allows all patient assistance to count towards insurance out-of-pocket maximums.
In response to increases in health care costs, insurance plans, especially self-insured plans, began shifting more of those costs to patients through higher deductibles, higher coinsurance, and placing specialty drugs on higher cost sharing tiers. In response to these cost shifting trends, pharmaceutical manufacturers and nonprofits began to offer patient assistance programs for many life-saving specialty medications that lack generic equivalents. Insurance providers countered by not allowing these patient assistance programs to count to insurance out-of-pocket maximums.
Patient assistance programs have positive benefits for patients (improves access, affordability, and compliance). However, an increasing number of health insurance plans believe they drive up prescription drug costs by assisting patients in satisfying part or all their individual out-of-pocket costs.
Many people living with a chronic disease have come to rely on this kind of financial assistance to access their medicines and have no idea their health insurers are no longer accepting the patient assistance towards their out-of-pocket limits. Patients often find out mid-year when they’re stuck with thousands of dollars in charges for their prescription refill because they thought they had already met their out-of-pocket maximum for the year.
Contact your legislators to tell them to support legislation that allows all patient assistance to count towards insurance out-of-pocket maximums. The most common and effective forms are writing a letter, sending an email, calling your legislator, and meeting with your legislator and/or their staff.
Look up your Legislators:
Oregon Legislators | Federal Legislators
The Oregon All Copays Count Coalition represents Oregonians living with chronic and rare conditions who rely on high-cost specialty drugs. PNWBD along with 38 other organizations, support all payments made by or on behalf of a patient count toward their cost sharing obligations rather than “copay accumulator adjustment programs”.
How Can You Engage Your Legislators?
As a constituent, advocacy is a powerful tool. There are many ways you can reach your legislators. The most common and effective forms are writing a letter, sending an email, calling your legislator, and meeting with your legislator and/or their staff.
Get in touch with your federal, state, and local elected leaders: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
We can help!
Contact Us to find out more about becoming an effective advocate.
PNWBD Bleeding Disorder Awerness Day
You have the power to impact the future of your own access to better treatment and care through your own advocacy. Policymakers in Salem, OR and Washington, DC need to hear from you in order to make educated and informed decisions on legislation impacting you and your family. Their awareness of bleeding disorders starts with you. Become your own advocate and make a difference.
Every year PNWBD invites community members to stand with us at the Oregon State Capital in Salem to keep our elected officials informed of the struggles facing people who live with bleeding disorder. Community members come together for dinner & training the night before to understand current legislation and gain confidence to tell your story to elected officials. The next morning starts with early breakfast with elected officials followed by scheduled appointments with elected officials at the Oregon State Capital. Contact our office to get involved. Become a member of PNWBD to receive exclusive information and invitations for our upcoming events, like Advocacy Day.
For more information or to attend Advocacy Day please contact our office. Become a member of PNWBD and receive exclusive information and invitations.