Now Is NOT The Time To Raise Costs For Patients!
A new rule from the US Department of Health and Human Services will unfairly raise the costs of prescription medications for millions of Americans.
Out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs are a major concern for millions of Americans. Rather than delivering on the promise to make prescription drugs more affordable, this new rule from the Trump administration will actually increase out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for some Americans. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2021 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) allows for the expansion of co-pay accumulator adjustment programs, in which insurers bar drug manufacturer coupons that consumers often use to lower their drug costs at the pharmacy counter from counting toward their annual cost-sharing limits.
Americans are already struggling during the coronavirus public health crisis. Historic levels of unemployment mean millions of people have lost their employer-sponsored health insurance and even fewer are able to afford their out-of-pocket health care costs. This is particularly true for patients with chronic illnesses, such as the HIV positive community.
Our leaders must address this important issue to help protect the most vulnerable Americans, many of whom are already facing severe economic hardships due to the pandemic. Now is NOT the time to raise costs for patients!