2019 Policy Priorities

Transcription

1 2019 Policy Priorities February 20, 2019

2 Speaker Bari Talente EVP, Advocacy

3 Webinar Logistics We are using GoToWebinar for this training You are currently on mute Q&A at the end Use raise hand function or question chat box Webinar is being recorded and all information will be posted on

4 Webinar Logistics

5 Speaker Leslie Ritter Senior Director, Federal Government Relations

6

7 Make-up of the 116 th Congress House Partisan Balance Senate Partisan Balance Party 116th Congress Party 116th Congress Democratic 235 Democratic 45 Republican 199 Republican 53 Vacancies 1 Independent 2 Total 435 Total 100

8 The NEW Congress Average age: new members are Democrats: 60 House, 4 Senate 36 new members are Republicans: 30 House, 6 Senate 40 new members are women 19 new members have served in the military 5 new members are medical professionals

9 Speaker Grant Couch Senior Director, Federal Government Relations

10 Importance of Congressional Committees Committee are how Congress manages and divides work Committee approval increases the likelihood of a floor vote Committee chairs are very powerful Target key committee

11 Key Committees House and Senate Appropriations Committees House Energy and Commerce Committee Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Senate Finance Committee House Ways and Means Committee

12 Legislative Process What you Learn in School Reality

13 Bill introduced and referred to committee(s) Subcommittee & full committee hearings, markup and vote Chamber debates & votes on bill Both chambers vote on final bill; sent to President Conference committee to resolve differences Repeated in other chamber

14 Leaders of the 116 th Congress - House House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi (CA) House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer (MD) House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (SC) Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Lujan (NM) Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (NY) House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA) House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (LA) Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (WY)

15 Leaders of the 116 th Congress - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) Majority Whip John Thune (SD) Conference Chair John Barrasso (WY) Conference Vice Chair Joni Ernst (IA) Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) Minority Whip Dick Durbin (IL) Assistant Leader Patty Murray (WA)

16 2019 Policy Priorities MS Research Funding MS Research Program National Institutes of Health Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Affordable, High Quality Health Coverage Surprise Billing Access to Medications CREATES and pay-for delay Address price increases Medicare Part D coverage- out-of-pocket cap and generics

17 Increased federal investment in MS research Why It s Important: The Society leverages federal funding for MS research to foster and expedite solutions, so that people with MS have what they need to live their best lives. National Institutes of Health (NIH) MS Research Program at the Department of Defense (MSRP) Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

18 Increased federal investment in MS research Request for Congress: Support sustained federal investment in MS research in fiscal year 2020 by: Providing $16 million for the MSRP at the Department of Defense Providing $2.5 billion increase for the NIH Reauthorizing PCORI

19 Increased federal investment in MS research Wow The treatment that I m on today is a result of NIH research in fact, every MS treatment that is available today started with research funded by the NIH. How Consistent, sustained federal investment in both basic and innovative MS research allows scientists and researchers to pursue studies that can lead to the next generation of treatments and a cure. Now Support legislation that Provides $16 million for the MS Research Program Provides $41.6 billion for the NIH Reauthorizes PCORI

20 Health Coverage: Surprise Billing Why It s Important Unexpected bills can be financially devastating and cause stress, anxiety and other hardships. Surprise medical bills can occur when an individual receives healthcare services from a provider that is not in-network and the individual receives a bill for the difference in their cost share between an in-network provider and an out-of-network provider. Often, a person is seeking care at an in-network facility or practice, and wouldn t know that an individual provider is out of network.

21 Issue Request for Congress Support legislation to protect people with multiple sclerosis from surprise medical bills.

22 Issue Wow I made sure the medical practice was in-network. Then I was given a different doctor than the one I made an appointment with, and got a large medical bill for seeing an out-of-network doctor! How The Kaiser Family Foundation found that 7 in 10 individuals with unaffordable bills did not know their healthcare provider was not in the health plan s network. Now Cosponsor legislation to address surprise billing and protect patients.

23 Access to Medications Why It s Important Early and ongoing treatment with a DMT is the best way to protect from disease progression and damage Comprehensive solutions across the supply chain are needed- reducing barriers to generics rein in price increases insurance design that meets the needs of people Medications must be affordable, and the process for getting them simple and transparent

24 Access to Medications Request for Congress: Support legislation to reduce barriers to generics, rein in price increases and make coverage work for people CREATES Act and Pay for Delay- reduce barriers to generics by eliminating gaming in system CURE High Drug Prices Act- HHS can take action on unjustifiable price increase above certain thresholds Medicare Part D- institute out-of-pocket caps and resolve specialty generics issues

25 Issue Wow I ve watched the price of my DMT increase and my out-of-pocket costs become nearly unaffordable. How There s no single approach to fix all this, but Congress needs to start taking some action so people can afford their lifechanging medications. Now Remove barriers to generics Rein in price increases Put in out-of-pocket cap in Medicare Part D and fix specialty generics

26 Questions???

27 What s Next? Action alert Social media Get to know your elected officials Public Policy Conference