Non-Medical Switching
Background: Pharmacy benefit managers and health insurers are increasingly making coverage changes aimed at forcing patients that are stable on their current therapies to switch to cheaper treatment options. These lower-cost options may be therapies that patients have already tried and failed on, or are options their physicians have not personally recommended for them based on their unique medical histories.
This is known as “non-medical switching.” It erodes patient health and drives up long-term monetary and societal costs.
There are currently no protections preventing commercial health insurers from reducing prescription coverage at any time during the year, even including right after a patient has signed on to a plan. These prescription coverage changes may take the form of increased out-of-pocket costs, more restrictions around access, or removing medications from coverage entirely.
If you’re in New York, please consider taking this survey to help us learn more about non-medical switching: https://www.research.net/r/X9XJYQR
50-State Network
Background: The 50-State Network is a grassroots advocacy organization comprised of patients. The 50-State Network is working to share the patient perspective, which is crucial in the State and Federal health policy and regulatory arenas. Patients need a voice in all conversations that relate to our access to treatment, safety, or the quality of care.
Some highlights of the 50-State Network:
Ongoing training—(peer to peer) as well as with leaders in the field. Some examples of topics (aside from explaining access issues):
- SEO experts share with patient bloggers tips to getting their blog in front of more eyes
- PR experts share how to write a letter to editor and some tips to doing a phone or camera interview.
- State legislators and their chiefs of staff explain what they listen for in a constituent meeting.
Understanding that people with chronic disease can’t do much travelling, the majority of work is done digitally or through conference calls.
Many topics are developed out of the request/need of the network.
Interested in getting some advocacy support: https://www.50statenetwork.org/join-the-50-state-network/