ADAP Advocacy Urges CMS to Exclude HIV Medications from Drug Price Negotiations

ADAP Advocacy has taken a significant step by submitting public comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), urging the exclusion of HIV antiretroviral therapies from the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. This initiative, part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, aims to negotiate drug prices, but ADAP Advocacy warns of dire consequences for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) if HIV medications are included.

Brandon M. Macsata, CEO of ADAP Advocacy, emphasized the critical nature of uninterrupted access to HIV medications. He pointed out that any disruption could lead to patients falling out of treatment, risking their lives to opportunistic infections or the development of drug-resistant HIV strains. The advocacy group underscores the importance of the 'treatment as prevention' approach, which has been pivotal in controlling the HIV epidemic by preventing new infections and reducing healthcare costs associated with advanced HIV complications.

The public comments submitted by ADAP Advocacy to CMS highlight the organization's concerns and the rationale behind the requested HIV carve-out. This move reflects the broader implications of drug pricing policies on vulnerable populations and the ongoing efforts to combat the HIV epidemic effectively.