Georgia Office - - PDF document

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• Arthritis Foundation Advocacy

Priorities include: Increasing funding for arthritis research and community programs/public health initiatives Encourage GA legislators to sign on to PATA (HR 4209) -The Patients' Access to Therapies Act

Georgia Office

Located in Atlanta Office in Columbus Serve: 1 in 4 adults (1.6 million) 9,200 children

Strategic Plan

Impact Objectives

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• Patient Resources

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SAK (Supporting Arthritis Kids) Program

Newly diagnosed children receive SAKs (backpacks with informative info) and families are connected to the AF through physicians

JA Family Education Weekend

Mini weekend conference for parents, children and siblings

Camp Ache Away

5 day sleepover camp for children ages 6-15 no cost to families in Georgia JULY 1-6 (still in need of medical support staff )

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• No longer require physician consent

AF provides training to leaders/oversight Cost is set by host facility ~ approximately $3 - $5 per class AF maintains list of programs around the state

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• Specialty Tiers Impact

Cost –Shifting practice that prevents doctors from treating patient effectively and prevents patients from having access to their medications The establishment of Health Benefit Exchanges could result in expanded use of specialty tiers. In Medicare, even with the Donut Hole discount program, significant out-of-pocket costs remain for beneficiaries with high-cost chronic conditions. In Medicare, even with the Donut Hole discount program, significant out-of-pocket costs remain for beneficiaries with high-cost chronic conditions.

• In Georgia

Advocates for Responsible Care (ARxC) _ Writes Op-Ed _ Sent letter to Ga. Insurance Commissioner _ Spear-heads forming Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia with Georgia Bio: 18 medical orgs as members _ Gains Press/Media coverage as Coalition _ Addresses Georgia Health & Human Services Committee

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Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia

• Advocates for Responsible Care (ARxC)
• American Cancer Society of Georgia
• Arthritis Foundation, SE region
• Atlanta Black Nurses Association
• Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology
• Georgia Bio
• Georgia AIDS Coalition
• Georgians for a Healthy Future
• Georgia Pain Initiative
• Hemophilia of Georgia
• LACES
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Georgia
• Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia, Inc.
• Lung Cancer Alliance, Georgia
• M.A.R.S. Metropolitan Atlanta Rheumatology Society
• Mental Health America
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia
• U.S. Pain Foundation

What is Happening?

Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia

• Partnering with 18 health and illness centered

groups in Georgia and national affiliates to pass legislation to stop discrimination and prohibitive cost of these medications.

• Member organizations have issued Policy

statements Georgia/National Specialty Tier survey Assisted with recommendations for MAG Resolution on Specialty Tiers

What is Happening?

Coalition assists Rep. Hank Johnson to stop this cost- shifting practice for Medicare Creates Briefing and materials to educate Congress and the Press/Media Sent Coalition letter to Pharmacy Caucus, Medical Association of Georgia and members of Congress who are pharmacists and some committee chairs

What is Happening?

We reach out to the administration and health reform committees with HHS to correct oversight for reform benefits MS has Georgia Tech students to study ST legislation strategy for Georgia American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation take action toward legislation of HR 4209 Over 400 signatures of petition at AF and Lupus Walks 2012

What is Happening Now?

U.S. Representative David McKinley (R-WV) has introduced legislation, known as H.R. 4209-The Patients' Access to Therapies Act (PATA), to end this discrimination by requiring insurers to impose the same co-pay obligations for Tier IV/specialty drugs, biologics, as they do for Tier III

• medications. The original bipartisan cosponsors of PATA are
• Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Rep.

Barney Frank (D-MA), and Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL). Currently 9 Dems and 6 Republicans.

• Rep. Johnson meeting with Senate Health committee;

looking to adopt legislation. ST Coalition seeking support for Georgia legislation.

A Call to Action Strategy: What’s Next?

Call to Action : Public Awareness Campaign The Invisible Project: Photo Journalist Patient Stories

who take ST drugs. Creates large press, media and legislators attention with public events. Specialty Tiers Coalition needs patient stories for Awareness campaign and legislative testifying. Patient Story Flyer Appeal Support Coalition members activities with LTEs and Op-eds . Inform staff of our mission.

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What’s in it for you and your patients?

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How Can You Be Involved?

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