FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick De Leeuw
March 4, 2021 (517) 575-9564
LANSING, MI – Michigan’s leading patient advocacy organizations announced today the formation of a new coalition, the Michigan All Copays Count Coalition, and their enthusiastic support for legislation that will guarantee insurance companies count all copayments made by or on behalf of Michiganders.
House Bill 4353, championed by House Health Policy Committee Chair Bronna Kahle, would prevent an increasingly common practice used by insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers called “copay accumulator adjuster programs” that exclude copay assistance payments from counting toward the patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.
For individuals living with rare and chronic conditions, like cancer, hemophilia, arthritis and many more, access to effective treatment is often made possible through copay assistance.
“Copay accumulator adjustment programs are detrimental for patients with chronic or rare conditions, such as hemophilia, as these insurance programs can prevent patients from affording necessary treatments.” said Sarah Procario, Advocacy Director for the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan, and leader of the Michigan All Copays Count Coalition. “Thanks to the leadership of Chair Kahle, patients will be able to afford the treatments they need to live healthy lives.”
Said Chairwoman Kahle (R-Adrian): “Patients count on their medicine and their treatments, and they shouldn’t have to find a way to pay for them twice. I’m pleased to sponsor this legislation because I know patients face enough challenges already during a global pandemic. Protecting their access to copay assistance is an important step towards healthier families and a healthier Michigan.”
House Bill 4353 acknowledges that copay assistance is real money and stops this discriminatory insurance practice. Under copay accumulator adjuster programs, out-of-pocket costs are paid twice, first from copay assistance and then from the patient.
“Eighty percent (80%) of patients with psoriatic disease rely on copay assistance to afford their treatment. It is time for Michigan to end this discriminatory practice and guarantee access to necessary treatments,” said Kristen Stiffler, State Government Relations Manager for the National Psoriasis Foundation. “Especially during the pandemic, the Coalition thanks Chair Kahle and the numerous co-sponsors for ensuring all copays count.”
Members of the new Michigan All Copays Count Coalition include:
Allergy and Asthma Network;
Alliance for Patient Access;
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association;
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network;
American Diabetes Association;
American Kidney Fund;
The Arc Michigan;
Arthritis Foundation;
The Bonnell Foundation;
Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations;
Gaucher Community Alliance;
Hemophilia Federation of America;
Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan;
HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute;
Little Hercules Foundation;
Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.;
Michigan Osteopathic Association;
Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology;
Michigan State Medical Society;
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America;
National Hemophilia Foundation;
National Multiple Sclerosis Society;
National Organization for Rare Diseases;
National Psoriasis Foundation;
New Day Foundation;
Rock CF;
Spondylitis Association of America; and
Susan G. Komen
