PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho recently penned a letter to Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo urging a veto of legislation (AB 259) that would discriminate against patients, people with disabilities. and older adults.
PIPC is strongly concerned that the AB 259 would set Medicare’s so-called “maximum fair price” as the upper payment limit (UPL) for drugs purchased in Nevada. By doing so, the state will utilize discriminatory measures of cost effectiveness, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and similar measures, on which CMS relied to establish these “maximum fair prices" in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program. PIPC also opposes the legislation for its lack of opportunities for public input on potential access issues, raising concerns that treatment options will be limited without guaranteed cost savings for beneficiaries.
"AB 259 raises significant concerns for the patient and disability communities that have long
fought for a seat at the table in decisions related to health coverage and reimbursement policy and against health care discrimination," wrote Chair Coelho. "The process set up by AB 259 does not provide any opportunity for engagement or pathways to address the unintended consequences for patients."
Chairman Coelho continued in saying "In reality, setting prices in reference to decisions made by a third-party entity will import their decision-making process – in this case a process relying on value assessments that devalue people with disabilities."
"AB 259 raises significant concerns for the patient and disability communities that have long
fought for a seat at the table in decisions related to health coverage and reimbursement policy and against health care discrimination," wrote Chair Coelho. "The process set up by AB 259 does not provide any opportunity for engagement or pathways to address the unintended consequences for patients."
Chairman Coelho continued in saying "In reality, setting prices in reference to decisions made by a third-party entity will import their decision-making process – in this case a process relying on value assessments that devalue people with disabilities."
| pipc_nevada_letter.pdf |
