May 8, 2020 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2021:
“The uncertainty of the current global COVID-19 pandemic paired with one in two Americans already living with one and often multiple chronic conditions, leaves no room for shortcomings in care coverage that enables affordable access to the medical care, medications, and supports needed to achieve better health outcomes.
“This week’s announcement from HHS notes changes ‘intended to provide issuers with greater predictability for upcoming plan years’ and highlights ‘risk adjustment’ in a way that seems considerably shortsighted given the current environment. The announcement will significantly increase patient out-of-pocket costs, jeopardize patient access to prescribed treatments, and harm patient health.
“PFCD stands by the value principles noted in its recent Framework to Address the High Cost Burden for People with Serious Chronic Conditions. Given the thousands of input responses HHS received in the process of making these decisions, the result is surprising as out-of-pocket increases will have serious implications for adherence rates and ultimately preventable utilization relating to costly complications.
“There are many families being impacted by this health crisis-driven economic downturn, and this is particularly devastating for the millions of Americans living with chronic conditions. American patients are counting on the current Administration to forge a path forward towards a healthier nation, not take two steps back at a time of such great need.”
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The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an international coalition of hundreds of patient, provider, community, business and labor groups, and health policy experts, committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability and rising health care costs: chronic disease.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Burke
Jennifer.burke@fightchronicdisease.org
