Congress goes into recess in October while staff work behind the scenes to prepare for a potentially busy November lame-duck session
Congress is in recess with Representatives and Senators back in districts and states connecting with their constituents prior to the elections. Their staff are working hard to prepare for what many hope to be a productive November legislative session where some legislative priorities may finally make it to final passage.
A3 Advocates Hit the Hill to Advocate for Liver Disease Priorities
On September 16, 2024, liver disease advocates met with around 50 Congressional offices and connected with even more offices virtually to educate staff on policy matters. Feedback from the offices was tremendous, with many looking for follow-up on issues such as the Veterans Affairs’ actions restricting access to medication for NASH/MASH or seeking out personal stories to highlight the need for access and coverage of medication treating obesity and medical nutrition. Congress heard from advocates on the need to address liver disease and advance early detection and screening as a key component of efforts to reduce cancer and achieve the Cancer Moonshot. Congratulations to everyone joining the Advanced Advocacy Academy and using their voice in Congress.
Join GLI in Pushing for the VA to Celebrate Veterans Day by Giving Patients Access to Care for NASH/MASH
Veterans Day is coming up on November 10, yet veterans are being denied coverage for NASH/MASH treatment without a biopsy or experiencing delayed care due to requirements to receive “comprehensive lifestyle intervention” for 6 months before being eligible for treatment. The VA’s decision is contrary to the label from the Food and Drug Administration and clinical guidelines. As part of GLI’s Beyond the Biopsy initiative, GLI and its partners sent a letter to the VA with 24 signatures from individuals and organizations. We continue to encourage signatures here on a petition to all payers calling for coverage without biopsy!
Additionally, GLI sent letters to the following payers calling for them to reverse restrictions on accessing NASH/MASH care:
- Anthem, an Elevance company: Click here to view the letter. Click here to outreach directly if you or someone you know is impacted.
- Uniform Medical Plan: Click here to view the letter. Click here to outreach directly if you or someone you know is impacted.
- Eastern Oregon CCO: Click here to view the letter. Click here to outreach directly if you or someone you know is impacted.
- Excellus BCBS: Click here to view the letter. Click here to outreach directly if you or someone you know is impacted.
- Health Alliance Medical Plan: Click here to view the letter. Click here to outreach directly if you or someone you know is impacted.
Congress Passes a Continuing Resolution (CR) to Keep Government Funded
Congress passed H.R.9747, a Continuing Resolution that funds the government through December 20th. That means Congress has bought itself time to hash out appropriations and funding levels for the government, including health care programs. In November, Congress will debate topics such as whether to increase funding for the CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis or reduce funding for the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) as proposed by the House. GLI supports the higher Senate funding levels for most HHS programs, while supporting the increased funding level proposed by the House for the CDC’s work on viral hepatitis.
The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act Passes the House
H.R. 2706/S. 1183, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, passed the full House of Representatives in late September. Advocates now turn their focus to the Senate in hopes the bill will make progress before Congress ends. The National Down Syndrome Society has provided supporters with advocacy tools. View the action alert here to send a message to your Senators. View an email template here to send a more personalized message to your Senators. View more information, including social media templates, here.
GLI Continues to Advocate for End-of-Year Action on Key Bills
- The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA, H.R.4818/S.2407): On June 27, 2024, The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee marked up legislation to extend Medicare coverage to obesity care. GLI supported the amended bill that passed out of committee. GLI and its Liver Action Network partners have sent letters supporting Congressional action to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.
- Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2407/S.2085): The bill was marked up by the House Ways and Means Committee on a unanimous vote to increase access to cancer screenings. View the press release from the lead sponsor, Rep. Sewell.
- Telehealth: Congress must pass legislation soon to extend COVID-Era Telehealth and Supervision Flexibilities. The House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up the Telehealth Modernization Act.
- Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA, H.R.2377/S.1000): Avoiding cuts of up to 15 percent to laboratory services will require Congressional action before year end.
- Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act (H.R.485): The House of Representatives passed legislation earlier this year to extend protections against the use of discriminatory value assessments (QALYs and similar measures) in Medicare to other federal health programs. It remains a priority for the Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
- Safe Step Act (H.R.2630/S.652): The legislation is being considered as part of reforms to PBMs (S.1339) and would protect patients from insurers preventing access to prescribed care.
GLI Works to Build Momentum to Move More Legislative Priorities for Patients
Congress returns in September for one last push to advance key legislative priorities out of the committees of jurisdiction and onto a floor vote. GLI is deeply engaged in efforts to advocate and build momentum for several pieces of legislation:
- Old Drugs, New Cures Act (H.R.8267): Incentivizes the development of new uses for existing drugs to improve access to lifesaving medications that benefits low-income Americans who rely on Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or Medicare Part D low-income subsidies.
- The Liver Illness, Visibility, Education and Research Act (LIVER Act): Increases federal assistance to study, prevent, and treat liver cancer.
- Medical Nutrition Equity Act (H.R. 6892): Ensures both public and private insurance cover medically necessary foods as a treatment option, since they are required to support proper growth and development and to prevent medical complications, severe disabilities, and death.
- Living Donor Protection Act (H.R.2923/S.1384): Would protect living organ donors and remove barriers to greater donation.
- John Walsh Home Infusion Act (H.R.7346): Would change the Medicare law to improve access to augmentation therapy infusions at home for individuals with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1) under Medicare Part B.
Advocates Continue Efforts to Advance Equitable Access to Hepatitis C Treatments
Efforts continue to advance the Hepatitis C Elimination Plan proposed in the President’s Budget for FY 2024. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), responsible for calculating how much a plan will cost the federal budget, has asked for reliable research providing CBO with the information it needs for its analysis. The Senate Appropriations Committee stated in its report accompanying the Labor/HHS appropriations bill that it supports efforts to increase access to diagnostic testing, including rapid diagnostics; expand the availability of treatment; and bolster public health strategies to prevent hepatitis C. The House of Representatives’ bill increased proposed funding for the CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis by $10 million to $53 million. GLI looks forward to the introduction of legislation to put a plan into action for increasing equitable access to hepatitis C treatment.
