The Policy Corner discussed Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs) in April. As an Ensuring Access through Collaborative Health (EACH) Coalition member, the Infusion Access Foundation is interested in learning more about PDABs and the impact upper payment limits (UPLs) could have on infusion and injectable access, cost-sharing responsibility, and health equity. As we previously reported, the EACH coalition has allowed patients to get involved directly through the Patient Inclusion Council (PIC). The PIC aims to equip patients and caregivers with the resources to engage policymakers and regulators regarding PDABs and UPLs effectively.
Survey Information
To better understand what keeps patients from accessing the medication they need, the Patient Inclusion Council (PIC) has put together a survey. The survey is online and open to all patients and caregivers willing to share their thoughts on insurance issues, costs of prescription drugs, and barriers to accessing medications. They also encourage patients and caregivers to share the survey with their networks to get as much patient and caregiver feedback as possible. The results of the study will be shared with government representatives at the state and federal levels, including state PDAB board members, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and federal lawmakers. The PIC hopes to equip these decision-makers with better data on patient perspectives on drug affordability and access and address the issues the coalition previously identified with the surveys originally designed by state PDABs.
Get Involved
The Infusion Access Foundation encourages any patient or caregiver for someone with a chronic condition to participate in the survey and share their experience with access and affordability. We also encourage our patient champions to attend a PIC meeting to learn more about PDABs and the decisions about prescription drug affordability. Interested readers can sign up for the coalition here.
