Policy Update Michael Ruppal Executive Director December 4, 2014
Policy Update Budget and Appropriations Health Reform Ryan White Program HIV testing reimbursement State Legislative Process
Budget & Appropriations FY15 Operating on Continuing Resolution until 12/11 Omnibus or long term CR? ABAC letter to Appropriators signed by 191 groups Planning for FY16 Budget caps remain about the same Holding line on community asks Meetings with OMB New 114th Congress
Budget & Appropriations Jeanne White-Ginder Visit to DC Developed Background papers Issued press advisories & releases National Press Club Press Conference Articles in Politico, Blade, Huffington Post, Gannett News Visits with Key Congressional Leaders Focus on funding & future of program Roll Call op-ed
Health Reform Ensuring it works for people with HIV Work with HIV community & other patient groups I AM (Still) ESSENTIAL group Letter to Secretary Burwell signed by 333 patient groups Focus on Rx benefit, cost sharing & transparency Press releases & media coverage Using social media
Health Reform- Media Orange County Register op-ed w/ Epilepsy Miami Herald USA Today NY Times Washington Post US News & World Report ProPublica AP Business Bloomberg BNA AP (2) New York Post Inside Health Modern Health Care (2) Inside Health Politico Huffington Post New Republic Fiscal Times Business Week Kaiser News The Hill
Discrimination Complaint Continues to receive media attention No formal response Conversations with Florida Insurance Comm. Informal reports Urge Administration to enforce ACA PACHA public comments Pursuing additional complaints Multiple law firms
Discrimination Complaint Awaiting decision Awaiting non-discrimination regulations 2015 plans Plans returned & forced to make changes Conducting analysis now
Health Reform Next Steps Preparing for 2015 Enrollment & Re-enrollment White House & HHS meetings Hope to see more movement by Ryan White clients Work with other patient groups Message: Look Beyond Premiums Media outreach: NY Times; WSJ; Wash Post; AP, Miami Herald; Politico Awaiting Regulations and Letter to Issuers 114th Congress
Ryan White Program Focus on continued funding & ACA implementation ü Jeanne White-Ginder visit Ryan White Work Group letter to congress AHF will re-introduce Ellmers bill in 114th Congress Part B Supplemental Analysis ü Distributes funding based on 10 criteria Georgetown University O Neil Institute
Ryan White Program Next Steps Work with partners to refocus supplemental funding Educate 114th Congress Proposed options to investigate: ü Funding distribution ü Examine Parts structure ü Hepatitis C
HIV Testing Reimbursement CMS Initiate Medicare Coverage Determination for Routine HIV testing As a result of TAI led meeting & letters TAI drafted comments signed by 54 groups Quality Measure Proposed for Routine Testing TAI drafted comments signed by 66 groups TAI issued updated coverage guide
State Legislative Process HIV testing statute changes from opt-in to opt-out for Healthcare settings. HCV testing expansion Syringe exchange pilot program (Miami/Dade) Medicaid expansion ACA/Marketplace plan review (Insurance Commissioner) Increased General Revenue for HIV & hepatitis program Protecting programs that work! Educating legislature especially new offices.