January 2019 Newsletter



Thursday, January 10th, 2019


 

In This Issue:
Chair’s Welcome: Letter from Serena DiMaso
Save the Date: 2019 Annual Conference 
Article: Partner Post
Take a look back: 2018 Annual Conference Wrap-Up
Get to Know: 2019 Board of Directors
Keeping Up with NFWL: Willingness to Serve

Welcome Letter 

Happy new year and welcome to 2019! I hope your holidays were beautiful and you made wonderful memories with family and friends. We are off to a good start at the NFWL. Jody, Renee, Brenna and I have all been working diligently since we last met to ensure a successful 2019. However, we want to hear from you. What are your thoughts and ideas for 2019? What would you like to see the NFWL deliver to you this year? How can you help us grow our Organization? Together we can make the National Foundation for Women Legislators bigger and better than ever before.

We are unique, we are energized, and we can be the model for how to get things done for our constituents. We will continue our initiatives to prevent human trafficking and growing civil discourse in the political arena. I’d like to see us add focus on education, communities and healthcare initiatives to ensure the future of our children, after all they are all our children.

To that end, we are planning a Healthcare Summit this summer, date and location to be determined. Please let us know your interest in participating in this event, as well as your thoughts, ideas, or even if you know potential sponsors. Our workforce development summit was a huge success and I’d like to see this one be just as successful, so your help will be much appreciated.

Also, please get your cowboy boots ready and mark your calendars for our fabulous conference to be held in San Antonio, Texas this November 18-21, 2019. I promise it’ll be a fantastic time, with lots to see and even more to learn. There are many wonderful adventures that await us on the horizon here at NFWL and we hope that you are just as excited to join in creating a future for Organization that will last another 80 years and beyond. I look forward to working with you all this year to achieve many great things. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at serena@womenlegislators.org. Happy New Year!
 

Save the Date: 2019 Annual Conference

Polish your boots! NFWL is ready to go boot scootin’ in San Antonio, Texas. Keep up with our upcoming announcements!

Partner Post

For many, January 1 marks the beginning of a new term with their health insurance plans. This year, be on the lookout for a new insurance tool that is rising in popularity—the copay accumulator program. In response to escalating prescription drug costs, insurers and employers are implementing accumulator programs that could hinder the ability of patients to access their medications.

Patients who cannot afford their copayments or coinsurance may be able to obtain a finite amount of assistance from drug manufacturers in the form of “copay coupons.” Historically, these coupons have contributed toward a patient’s deductible. However, copay accumulator programs prevent assistance from contributing towards the patient’s deductible. As a result, the insurer receives both the value of the coupon intended for the patient as well as the full deductible amount from the patient—essentially a “double-dip.”

These programs are especially problematic for patients who need high-cost medications and have relied on copayment assistance to fill their prescriptions. They are often unaware of changes to their health plans, and therefore, once assistance runs out, they are stuck with an unexpectedly high bill at the pharmacy counter. Patients could be blindsided when they discover they are still in the deductible phase of their health plans when they expected to have already reached the coverage phase.

A new report from Aimed Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that works to protect and enhance the rights of health care consumers and providers, explores the legal and health risks that these programs present. Employers Beware: Understanding the Costs and Liability Risks of Health Insurance Copay Accumulator Programs finds that copay accumulator programs can result in discrimination and can violate both state and federal consumer protection laws. The report offers recommendations for how these programs can be structured to ensure that patient access to medications is not unnecessarily disrupted. Aimed Alliance also has developed a brief fact sheet  on these programs.

Aimed Alliance expects these accumulator programs to continue proliferating across the country. According to a 2018 survey from National Business Group on Health, 56 percent of employers reported considering adopting a copay accumulator program in 2019 or 2020. Yet, no state prohibits or regulates them. Women legislators play a vital role in protecting consumers from predatory practices. Aimed Alliance is available to provide technical assistance to help legislators raise awareness about copay accumulators and propose legislation to regulate their use.

2018 Annual Conference Wrap-Up

Pictures, presentations, resolutions, and more!
Whether you were able to join us in Washington, DC for our 2018 Annual Conference or want to learn more about the event, our re-cap page has you covered. Don’t forget to share what you learned using #NFWL2018.

Conference Programming

Conference Programming includes passed resolutions, elected women shared legislation, and details about panels and speakers.

View Photos

We have hundreds of pictures live for downloading, so take a moment to relive the memories, pick our a new profile picture, or see what you missed!

Take Survey

Let us know your feedback! We’re always looking to hear from you on how we can make our programming better. Fill out this in just a few short minutes, and help us make our next conference even better!

Get to Know Your 2019 Board of Directors

Willingness to Serve

Leadership positions are a great way for members to become more involved with NFWL. From joining one of our many committees, to becoming a State Director or Board Member, we have many opportunities for those who are willing to serve. Complete your Willingness to Serve Form today to indicate that you are interested in serving in one of NFWL’s leadership roles.

Fill out Willingness to Serve Form

Action Items

Conference Programming
View Photos

Action Items

Annual Conference Survey
Fill out Willingness to Serve Form

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