S7, Ep 3- Advocacy in Action: Shaping 2024’s Health Care Policies with Corey Greenblatt

Corey Greenblatt, Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy at GHLF, joins Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, as co-host of this episode to share advocacy and policy priorities for the patient community in 2024. Corey breaks down which states are active in passing legislation that protects patients from step therapy and copay accumulators, and how patients can share their story to help pass these laws. Corey also highlights the need for patients to share their story to prescription drug affordability boards (PDABs). Finally, Corey shares federal policy updates, including exciting momentum for The Safe Step Act. Among the highlights in this episode: 01:12: Zoe and Corey discuss the results of a quick poll on psoriasis treatments, highlighting the importance of patients communicating with their doctors about treatment effectiveness and exploring different treatment options 02:43: Corey explains the value of having multiple treatment options for various conditions and the significance of maintaining open dialogue with health care providers to find the most beneficial treatment 03:46: Zoe mentions GHLF’s upcoming webinar; “Itching to Know About Psoriasis? A HEROES Webinar About Hair, Skin, and Scalp Health” to learn about psoriasis, its symptoms, and how to create a supportive, stigma-free environment. The webinar will take place on Monday, January 29, at 4pm ET. You can register via this link: https://ghlf.org/itching-to-know/ 04:04: Corey provides insights into the advocacy landscape for 2024, particularly focusing on the presidential election year and its impact on state government sessions 05:54: Corey explains the concept of Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs) and their role in evaluating medication cost-effectiveness at the state level 07:15: Zoe and Corey discuss how patient stories can influence PDABs' decisions on medication pricing and the importance of patient advocacy in these boards 09:22: Corey lists states involved in PDAB initiatives and encourages patients to share their medication experiences to inform state government decisions 12:52: The discussion moves to copay accumulator adjusters, with Corey outlining states with active legislation on this issue and advocating for patient involvement in legislative processes, regardless of personal experience with these policies 17:44: Our hosts discuss the HELP Copays Act, another significant federal initiative, and CMS's (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) efforts to gather patient experiences for drug price negotiation 19:53: Zoe concludes by encouraging listeners to participate in advocacy in any form, highlighting the momentum around the Safe Step Act and the impact of patient stories in shaping health care policy You can get in touch with our advocacy team at [email protected] Contact Our Hosts Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected] Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected] A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF. We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected] Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.