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In this Issue

As the 117th Congress looks to the issues at hand for its next dispatch of bills—with COVID undeniably front and center—infrastructure and health care are no doubt also on their radar. And, depending upon how they build-out (or in) health access into President Biden’s infrastructure package, health care and equity could again be focal points across the legislative and policy landscapes. 

However the year progresses, it will be important for both parties to find ways to get more affordable, high-quality, patient-centered care and prevention services into public programs. This includes taking on policies that directly impact chronically-ill patients and their ability to get the treatment they need and deserve.

— Scott Bertani, Director of Advocacy

Policy and Advocacy

Democrats recently announced their reintroduction of H.R.3., also known as the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (passed by the House in 2019). H.R.3 would allow the federal government to directly negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for certain drugs in the Medicare program. Read More

President Biden’s nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been delayed by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). Read More

A regulatory freeze on the Trump-era "Drug Rebate Rule" is delayed until 2023. The Rule, which changes payments to Pharmacy Benefit Managers in ways that disallow fluctuations based on the price of a drug, was slated to take effect January 2022. Read More

Gilead Sciences (Gilead) proposed a change to its Advancing Access Patient Assistance Program (PAP), which could disrupt the way in which service organizations handle program income generated by PrEP and ongoing HIV treatment services to their uninsured patients Read More

Fears arise that Tennessee's waivered TennCare III Medicaid program could threaten the health of vulnerable populations—especially communities of color and those with chronic conditions—as they could lose choice and access to quality health care services through cost-savings measures. Read More

Stats on the State of LGBTQ Health 

Upcoming Events

April 26 - May 2, 2021
Lesbian Visibility Week
» Learn more

May 2021
Hepatitis Awareness Month
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May 17, 2021
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
» Learn more

June 2021
LGBTQ Pride Month
» Learn more

The National Coalition for LGBT Health is committed to improving the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals through federal and local advocacy, education, and research. The Coalition strives to address the entire LGBT community, including individuals of every sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and age regardless of disability, income, education, and geography. The Coalition is an initiative of HealthHIV, a national nonprofit focused on health equity.

Contact Matthew Prior at matthew@healthhiv.org with any questions.