Lifesaving Biomarker Testing Bill HB23-1110 Supported by CHAIN Falls Short

Lifesaving Biomarker Testing Bill HB23-1110 Supported by CHAIN Falls Short

CHAIN has been actively supporting the passage of House Bill 23-1110, the Biomarker Bill that would have ensured every Coloradan had equal access to advanced disease testing and precision medicine.

Despite the advocacy from multiple patient groups, including the American Cancer Society, HB23-1110 is slated to die on the House calendar – meaning that it will receive no further action this session.

CHAIN is proud to have supported the American Cancer Society in advancing this critical legislation. Every Colorado patient should have access to these increasingly vital treatments for cancer and other other life threatening conditions.

At the same time, improving access to biomarker testing is critical to advancing health equity. Currently, patients who are insured by Medicaid, Black, have lower incomes, or receive treatment outside of academic medical centers are all less likely to benefit from biomarker testing. A key objective of this legislation is to help expand access to these populations, so that more Coloradans can access biomarker testing and the most effective treatments for their condition.

We look forward to supporting advocates in next year’s legislative session should this initiative be re-introduced.

April 18, 2023April 19, 2023

2023 National Civics Bee Competition Coming to Arvada Today, April 18th

2023 National Civics Bee Competition Coming to Arvada Today, April 18th

CHAIN is proud to sponsor the 2023 National Civics Bee competition in Arvada!

The National Civics Bee is an annual competition that takes place in partnership with the Colorado Chamber and local chambers of commerce across the United States.

A core mission of CHAIN is to engage the public in dialogue over important issues impacting our communities. The National Civics Bee, part of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Civic Trust initiative, aligns with our purpose to engage in civic life and encourage a civically connected community and nation.

On April 18 in Arvada, nine local middle schoolers selected by a panel of community-based judges will compete in this fast-paced live competition at Revive Church, testing their civics knowledge. The winners (and their schools) will be recognized in the community and receive cash prizes, and the top three students will also proceed to the state competition!

This is one of many pilot National Civics Bee competitions promoted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

This event is complimentary! Join CHAIN on April 18 to celebrate civic engagement and knowledge amongst the future leaders of Jefferson County!

April 2, 2023March 5, 2024

SAAM GOLGOON

Saam Golgoon

Saam Golgoon is a multi-talented professional with a diverse range of professional experiences and a deep commitment to community service. Born and raised in Iran, Saam moved to the United States at the age of 15 to pursue his dreams of a better life. Since then, he has built an impressive career that has spanned several different industries including Parks & Recreation, Real Estate, Arts, Music, Entertainment, and Marketing & Advertising.

Saam’s first career was in the Parks & Recreation industry. He worked as an Aquatics Supervisor for the Town of Breckenridge, then as an Aquatics Director for the South Park Recreation Center. He also served as the South Park BMX Track Director, gaining valuable experience in event management and community outreach.

Saam’s passion for the arts and music led him to the Cultural Arts Director position at the Town of Breckenridge. There, he worked to promote cultural events and support local artists. Saam then transitioned into the Entertainment industry, working as the Director of Operation/Facilities/Technology at Breckenridge Creative Arts. In this role, he helped to develop and manage events and venues that showcased local and international talent.

Saam’s entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit led him to found World Music Development, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to promote cross-cultural understanding through music. As President and CEO, Saam has worked to establish partnerships with musicians, venues, and festivals around the world.

Saam is a true champion of community service and has dedicated a significant portion of his time to volunteer work throughout his career. He has been actively involved with various organizations, including the American Red Cross, Red White and Blue Fire Department, Summit Rescue Group, and the Northwest Fire Department.

Saam has served as a volunteer instructor and disaster relief team member for the American Red Cross, where he has helped train individuals in life-saving skills and has assisted in disaster relief efforts in his local community and beyond. He has also been a volunteer firefighter with the Red White and Blue Fire Department in Breckenridge and the Northwest Fire District in Fairplay, responding to emergency calls and helping to keep his community safe. In addition to his firefighting work, Saam has also served as a volunteer Search & Rescue medic and dog handler with the Summit Rescue Group, where he has participated in rescue missions and helped save lives.

Saam’s passion for community service extends beyond his work as a first responder. He has also served as a town council member for the Town of Alma for 10 years, where he has worked tirelessly to make his community a better place to live. He has been involved in a range of initiatives to improve public safety, promote economic development, and support local businesses.

Currently, Saam serves as the Executive Director for the South Park Parks & Recreation District, where he oversees the management of local parks and recreational facilities and programs. He also serves as the Mayor of the Town of Alma, Colorado, where he continues to work tirelessly promoting economic development and community engagement.

His passion for community service is evident in his involvement with CHAIN (Colorado Health Advocacy Information Network), where he currently serves as a member of their Advisory Committee. CHAIN is an organization that works to improve healthcare access and affordability for Colorado residents.

Throughout his career, Saam has demonstrated as a true visionary and community leader. He has a unique ability to bring people together, foster collaboration, and drive positive change. Saam is a testament to the power of hard work, determination, and a genuine passion for making a difference in the world.

April 2, 2023March 5, 2024

NANCY LITTLEFORD

Nancy Littleford has a varied career with a unique depth and breadth of healthcare experience spanning more than 20 years. As a Licensed Professional Counselor since 1998, her education, training and experience in behavioral health have allowed her to be an advocate, change-agent and tireless relationship-builder. Nancy has spent the past 12 years immersed in population and community health initiatives in a variety of roles, including disease management programs, and corporate wellness, along with consulting and community health improvement projects. Healthcare is a very complicated system that requires skilled and diligent stakeholder engagement. Having served in multiple roles within that system, Nancy understands how best to build consensus and drive positive change.

April 2, 2023March 5, 2024

JENNIFER CHURCHFIELD

Jennifer Churchfield

Jennifer Churchfield has partnered with public and private organizations for over 25 years. She is currently the co-chair of Front Range PharmaLogic. She served Arapahoe County as the Communications Director for Arapahoe Responsible Energy Advocates. Jennifer was elected for two-terms to the Cherry Creek School District Board of Education and was Board President from 2011-2013. She is a graduate of Miami University in Ohio.

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023

Passing HB23-1110 Means Better Care, Healthier Outcomes and Millions in Savings for Patients

HB23-1110 - The "Biomarker Bill" - awaits next action after overwhelmingly passing in the House Health & Insurance Committee

Stakeholders across the state, including the American Cancer Society (“ACS”), have mobilized on this critical piece of legislation. The bill would guarantee the availability of biomarker testing and precision medicine for cancer patients in addition to Colorado patients with other life-threatening diseases.

Data from the ACS across the United States shows a deplorable gap in accessibility to precision medicine, especially among the underserved and underinsured. Almost 25% of patients needing these types of cutting-edge tests end up going without – risking their health – and possibly misdiagnosis, mistreatment and worse. Most of these cases involve lack of insurance approval as the primary impediment to getting needed care.

One patient, Rebecca Givens, testified in favor of HB23-1110 and shared her story:
“I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer Thanksgiving of 2019. This diagnosis was terrifying, confusing, time consuming and very expensive. It led to a year of treatment with chemotherapy, surgery and biologic therapy following surgery. And after all of this, I believed I was cancer free…”

“Then I learned at my post-cancer follow-up appointment that the values on the standard tumor marker blood test came back elevated. . . . and I was left with large out-of-pocket costs that I had to cover…”

“My doctor then told me about comprehensive biomarker testing, a highly sensitive and personalized test that could reveal if my cancer had reoccurred or if new cancer cells were present with the added benefit that the test would not show a false positive based on my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. I jumped at the chance to get this testing despite its very high cost that was not covered by my group health insurance plan. Being fortunate enough to have the financial resources, I immediately determined to move forward with this critical test.”

“The results of my biomarker testing were negative. I finally knew I was cancer free. Had I received comprehensive biomarker testing earlier in my cancer journey, I would have not had to endure the additional diagnostic tests and procedures, saving me precious time and stress, and reducing the cost of my care overall.”

Rebecca’s story, despite the anguish, ended well. But how many Colorado patients may not be as fortunate to afford extra care to get to the right diagnosis? One more is too many.

By lowering misdiagnosis and improving care, precision medicine could dramatically lower the cost of care not only in Colorado but across the United States. For colorectal cancer alone, A 2012 study found that it is possible to increase expected overall survival while saving approximately $7,500 per patient when compared to using non-biomarker-directed treatment²⁵. Another research project estimated that using specific biomarker testing could save more than $600 million by ensuring that only those metastatic colorectal cancer patients likely to benefit from a specific therapy would receive it.

In spite of the overwhelming public good and support of leading health and patient advocacy groups, passage of HB23-1110 is not assured. The bill’s next stop will likely be the House Appropriations Committee.

CHAIN is urging every Coloradan to contact their state lawmakers and encourage them to support physical and financial wellbeing in our state by voting YES on HB23-1110.

March 24, 2023March 29, 2023

Scarier Than the Original! HB23-1225: PDAB “MODERNIZATION”

“Bride of Prescription Drug Affordability Board” is Scaring Coloradans Silly

Access compromised to life saving medicines.
Zero savings for beleaguered drug patients.
No relief from crushing out of pocket medical costs.
Squeezing doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, and clinics in a brutal ethical vice.
Squandering $81,000 PER MONTH in taxpayer money.

Welcome to Colorado’s emerging “Prescription Drug Affordability Board” (PDAB) nightmare.

After 20 months since the original PDAB bill SB21-175 passed, PDAB bureaucracy is floundering. Not one penny has been saved for drug consumers. Not one drug has been subjected to review. And taxpayers have footed the bill to the tune of $81,000 per month.

Now comes HB23-1225 – the “Bride of PDAB” — passed today out of its first committee hearing (House Health & Insurance) – with a 8-3 vote.

This bill should scare Coloradans silly. “The Bride of PDAB” strips out the only two guardrails standing between Coloradans and a bureaucracy run amok. The bill gives the Board power over an UNLIMITED number of drugs instead of the current limit of 12. And it DOUBLES the life of the PDAB program from five to ten years. Already able to wreak massive havoc for patients, providers, and taxpayers, PDAB would become the “Godzilla” of health care nightmares under HB23-1225.

Over 30 Colorado doctors, health care provers, patients, and community members testified in opposition to the original PDAB bill (SB21-175) fearing a wave of negative impacts, staying well into the night to voice objections about this unproven policy.

Thankfully the cost overruns, backward logic, and bureaucratic fog of PDAB have kept the policy being implemented so far. But HB23-1225 is set to unleash the proverbial hounds and waste even more time, energy and taxpayer dollars.

We urge Coloradans to contact their legislators to say enough is enough. Leave the “Bride of PDAB” at the altar and vote no on HB23-1225.

The table below outlines PDAB by the numbers:

What level of savings can patients expect to see from implementation of PDAB policies and when can they expect to see them? Will patients see any reduction in their out-of-pocket costs?
How do Colorado patients and their families get assurance that the backward logic of the UPL does not result in patients being denied access to hundreds of medications because providers won’t be allowed to access the drugs or face legal action if they do?
What alternatives will be available to patients if a needed medication is denied to them?
To what extent would PDAB exacerbate the already growing health inequities between high and low income patients when those with means can travel outside Colorado for a drug not available under the UPL, and those without means will have a harder time doing so?
How can the state legislature, research staff, and HCPF leadership justify the notion that no additional fiscal support will be required for a DOUBLING of PDAB’s sunset term, when the current spend rate for the program is $81,000 a month. Will the four full time state employees now assigned to PDAB go away? Will the board not spend a penny during its five-year extension?

Read Jennifer Churchfield’s written testimony re: HB23-1225 here: https://consumerhealthadvocates.net/testimony-submitted-by-jennifer-churchield-hb23-1225/

We want to hear from you! What are your thoughts about HB23-1225? Please write to us at info@betterhealthcareco.org

March 9, 2023March 24, 2023

TESTIMONY SUBMITTED BY JENNIFER CHURCHIELD, HB23-1225

MARCH 9, 2023

Dear (Chair) and Members of the Health & Insurance Committee

Thank you for the opportunity to provide this written testimony to the House Health & Insurance Committee on HB23-1225, the PDAB Modernization Bill.

In 2021, I was one of dozens of everyday Coloradans, doctors, hospitals, medical providers and other stakeholders to testify in opposition to the original PDAB bill, SB21-175.

The concerns raised then about embarking on an ill-advised and unproven program where the state controls the price of prescription medicines lasted well into the night. Questions were never answered on how the state would ensure that patients in Colorado would receive real, tangible savings on prescription drugs, how the state would guarantee that patient access to life-saving medicines would not be compromised, and how the PDAB law would not put our health providers in the horrific vice of having either to deny patients the drugs they need or violate the law.

Twenty months and over $1.6 million in taxpayer dollars, these questions remain. The PDAB has not even brought up a single prescription drug for consideration of the upper payment limit (UPL), the supposed silver bullet for how costs will be lowered. Instead of producing real results for struggling Colorado drug consumers, the state had to go back for an additional $260,000 on top of the original appropriation.

Inexplicably, we are now looking at the introduction of HB23-1225 as a massive expansion of the PDAB program and reach. The bill removes the two key guardrails put in Sb-175 that legislators agreed to as a pledge to help ensure that, if nothing else, the potential damage of the PDAB program can be mitigated. Instead, HB23-1225 gives PDAB “carte blanche” to set a UPL for any drug they choose, as opposed to the twelve drug limit and doubles the sunset period from five to ten years.

We should be going in the opposite direction. Before taking any more action or gaining more control, the state legislature and the executive branch should be requiring that the PDAB board answer questions about the cost/benefit being promised to Colorado patients:

What level of savings can patients expect to see from implementation of PDAB policies and when can they expect to see them? Will patients see any reduction in their out-of-pocket costs?
How do Colorado patients and their families get assurance that the backward logic of the UPL does not result in patients being denied access to hundreds of medications because providers won’t be allowed to access the drugs or face legal action if they do?
What alternatives will be available to patients if a needed medication is denied to them?
To what extent would PDAB exacerbate the already growing health inequities between high and low-income patients when those with means can travel outside Colorado for a drug not available under the UPL, and those without means will have a harder time doing so?
How can the state legislature, research staff, and HCPF leadership possibly justify the notion that no additional fiscal support will be required for a DOUBLING of PDAB’s sunset term, when the current spend rate for the program is $81,000 a month. Will the four, full-time state employees now assigned to PDAB go away? Will the board not spend a penny during the course of its five-year extension?

Unfortunately for Colorado patients, families and taxpayers, these questions only begin to tackle the looming risks and costs posed by the PDAB concept. Add to those the fundamental violation of our free market system that having a government price-setting board represents, and the chance of a nightmare scenario facing the state’s patients and taxpayers becomes all too real.

I urge the state legislature to vote no on HB23-1225 and instead conduct a rigorous review of the hazards and harms PDAB may pose to Coloradans and address ways to ensure patients already struggling under high healthcare costs aren’t faced with further suffering.

Thank you,

Jennifer Churchfield

February 27, 2023February 27, 2023

Join us in celebrating the passage of HB23-1071, a bill which certifies psychologists to prescribe and administer psychotropic medications

Colorado legislature OKs allowing psychologists to prescribe medication

Join us in celebrating the passage of HB23-1071, a bill which certifies psychologists to prescribe and administer psychotropic medications (which treat depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and other mental health conditions). The bill now goes to @GovofCO for his consideration.

This bill is welcome news, as it is a bipartisan, commonsense measure that will actually connect Coloradans to the care they need in a faster and more cost efficient manner than today’s system currently allows. (Now, psychologists can’t prescribe but must refer patients to a psychiatrist or medical doctor for prescriptions. This bill will change that.)

Thanks to the Colorado Psychological Association, Colorado Counseling Association, National Association of Social Workers, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, AARP and Healthier Colorado for backing this important bill.

#CoPolitics #CoLeg

More here via @Colo_Politics

February 14, 2023August 13, 2024

Chain 2024 Action Agenda

CHAIN 2024 ACTION AGENDA

In 2024, CHAIN (Consumer Health Advocacy & Information Network) will expand efforts and outreach for finding common ground on common sense health care solutions. Our key action items include:

SUPPORT HEALTHCARE CONSUMER RIGHTS

Unfair and uncompetitive practices limit patient care and drive-up healthcare costs. CHAIN will work to reform or curtail these and other strategies that some healthcare entities use for their benefit but not necessarily for patients:

- Stem the unchecked payment of ‘rebates’ by drug makers to PBMs and insurance companies in order to gain approval for drugs to be covered and distributed. Can Rebate Reform Help Consumers?
- Oppose the growing misuse of prior authorization by health insurance providers to deny critically needed care.
- Push back on the proliferation of high deductible health plans and faltering of traditional health insurance to provide adequate coverage.

https://www.pacificresearch.org/new-pri-series-to-show-how-flawed-u-s-health-insurance-system-inflates-costs-decreases-quality-and-reduces-health-outcomes/

- End the indefensible practice used by insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to disallow drug maker assistance coupons from counting towards patient deductibles and out-of-pocket spending (called a co-pay accumulator). https://infusioncenter.org/understanding-copay-accumulators-who-really-benefits/
- Advocate for legislation that requires large group health insurance plans to cover biomarker testing, which is a nationally recognized clinical practice that allows physicians to more accurately determine the appropriate level of care – often called “precision medicine” – while reducing the need for multiple biopsies and other more invasive screening.

PROMOTE PRIVATE INNOVATION OVER GOVERMENT INTERVENTION

The Coronavirus vaccine and overall response proved indisputably that American innovation and technology leads the world. Massive and ill-conceived takeovers of parts of the American healthcare system threaten that innovation. CHAIN will fight to protect America’s scientific leadership and push back on the kinds of government overreach that threaten the very lifeblood of cures and treatments, including:

- Systemic healthcare takeover proposals such as single-payer insurance plans or drug-price control mechanisms;
- Policies such as HB 1 or the Medicare drug negotiation provisions in the Building a Better America Act that substitutes open competition for socialized health care policies;
- Nationalized drug pricing programs – as in Canada, Britain and other countries – that compel biotech companies to sell at below market costs which dampens life-saving innovation and compromises patient access;
- Push for alternative approaches like the Reduced Costs and Continued Cares Act (RCCCA).

FOSTER POLICY ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY

Too often, well-intended health care policies end up health care travesties for the very people the policies are intended to help. CHAIN will highlight the successes and failures in government healthcare initiatives and endeavor to spotlight practices already benefiting patients:

- Restore transparency and accountability to the $29b federal 340B drug program, designed to help underserved patients but now has veered off course into filling the coffers of healthcare providers.
- Facilitate conversations and awareness around practices such as value-based pricing, which bases the cost of prescription drugs on outcomes delivered.
- Call “time out” on proposals to import drugs from Canada or other nations, a policy that has cost Coloradans $2m since passage in 2020 and wasted millions more in federal resources while producing nothing in the way of savings for consumers.
- Continue speaking out against Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) — an unproven and costly policy that experts say will compromise access to life saving medicines.

HIGHLIGHT SCIENTIFIC & POLICY BREAKTHROUGHS

Coloradans can rightfully take pride in a burgeoning bioscience community that creates scientific breakthroughs in health care. Here and across the country, world-leading American scientists work to bring cures and treatments for our most devastating diseases. Simultaneously, policy experts continue to research ways to provide better health care with increasing cost of compromising access. CHAIN joins other science and research-based organizations supporting these efforts to:

- Advance the use of biosimilar drugs to lower the overall cost and spend on prescription medicines. Can Rebate Reform Help Consumers?
- Facilitate conversations and awareness around practices such as value-based pricing, which bases the cost of prescription drugs on outcomes delivered.
- Highlight emerging practices such as Pfizer’s recently enacted pledge to refund patients if their new lung cancer drug does not perform as intended.