Public Comments

GHLF communicates regularly with policymakers at the federal and state level. We submit commits on behalf of GHLF and also sign on with other organizations to communicate our support or opposition to existing policy and to proposed policies. Below are these letters.

Federal Comments

• 1/5/24 – Comments to CMS Regarding Biosimilar Substitution 
• 12/6/23 – Comments to FDA about oversight on Laboratory Developed Tests
• 2/9/23 – Amicus Brief to the SCOTUS in support of Copay Accumulator Adjustor reform
• 1/31/23 – Letter to CMS about Step Therapy and Essential Health Benefits (Safe-Step Coalition Sign-On)
• 10/11/22 – Comments to Palmetto GBA Regarding Coverage for Biomarker Testing
• 10/3/22 – Comments to HHS Regarding Copay Assistance and ACA Section 1557 (HIV + HEP Policy Institute Sign-On) 
• 7/25/22 – Letter to Senators Cantwell and Grassley to support S.4293, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act of 2022 (NCPA Sign-On)
• 7/22/22 – Letter to Senator Cantwell Regarding Rare Diseases (Sign-On Letter)
• 6/7/22 – Letter to Secretary Becerra about Maintaining Public Access to Pandemic-Related Services (NACDS Sign-On)
• 6/7/22 – Letter to Secretary Becerra about Clarifications regarding Nation’s Pharmacies (Coalition Sign-On) 
• 6/1/22 – Letter to Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (AfPA Sign-On)
• 5/24/22 – Comments to FTC about PBM practices and impact on Access and Affordability
• 5/24/22 – Comments to FTC about PBM practices and impact on Access and Affordability (HIV + Hep Policy Institute Sign-On Letter) 
• 5/23/22 – Comments to FTC about PBM practices and impact on Access and Affordability (ACCC Sign-On) 
• 5/11/22 – Comments to FTC about PBM practices and impact on Access and Affordability (ATAP Sign-on Letter)
• 4/11/22 – Comments to CMS about Clinical Practice Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids
• 4/4/22 – Letter to Senate HELP Committee Leadership and Senate E&C Committee about Accelerate Approval
• 3/29/22 – Comments to Senator Wyden and Senator Crapo of the US Senate Finance Committee about Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries
• 3/10/22 – Comments on FY22 Supplemental Funding COVID Letter
• 3/7/22 – Comments to CMS on Negotiated Price and Price Concessions
• 2/7/22 – Comments on National Coverage Determination for monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against Amyloid for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
• 1/26/22 – Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters 2023
• 12/20/21 – Letter to Senator Schumer about Build Back Better Act
• 12/14/21 – Letter to Senate Leadership and the Senate Committees on Budget and Finance
• 12/13/21 – Letter to Senator Schumer about the vaccine provisions in the Build Back Better Act (AVAC Sign-On Letter)
• 11/23/21 – GHLF Comments to HHS about Accumulator Adjustor Policies 
• 11/2/21 – GHLF Comments to FDA Acting Commissioner Woodcock Regarding JAK Inhibitor Warnings
• 10/21/21 – Letter to Congressional Leadership in Support of Step Therapy Reform (Federal Step Therapy Coalition Sign-On)
• 10/6/21 – Patient Community Concerns with Drug Pricing (HIV + HEP Institute Sign-On)
• 9/10/21 – Safe Step Inclusion in Reconciliation (Federal Step Therapy Coalition Sign-On)
• 9/9/21 – 132 Organizations Ask for Key Medicare Part D OOP Reforms in Budget Reconciliation Package (Project LOOP Sign-On) 
• 7/28/21 – Improving Patient Drug Affordability through Standardized Benefit Plans (HIV + HEP Sign-On)
• 6/30/21 – Comments to Congressional Leadership on Patient Centered Drug Pricing Policies (AARDA Sign-On)
• 6/23/21 – Comments to Federal Departments on Reporting on Benefits and Drug Costs (ATAP Sign-On) 
• 6/23/21 – Comments to Federal Departments on Reporting on Benefits and Drug Costs
• 6/22/21 – Comments to Federal Departments on Reporting on Benefits and Drug Costs (HIV+HEP Policy Institute Sign-On)
• 6/22/21 – Coalition Statement in Support of Research Using Human Fetal Tissue
• 6/21/21 – FTC Pharmaceutical Task Force Comments
• 5/12/21 – Rheumatic Community Comments on HR3 (American College of Rheumatology Sign-On)
• 4/22/21 – Letter to CMS about Step Therapy and Part B (American Academy of Ophthalmology Sign-On)
• 3/25/21 – Letter to Senator Klobuchar to support her efforts to study Rebate Walls (GHLF Sign-On)
• 3/15/21 – Letter to Congress in Support of House Resolution 135 (Spondylitis Association of America Sign-On)
• 2/12/21 – Letter to HHS Secretary about Copay Accumulator Adjustors (All Copays Count Coalition Sign-On)
• 2/12/21 – Comments on Proposed Rule Regarding Research Involving Human Fetal Tissue (Every Life Foundation Sign-On)
• 1/7/21 – Coalition Letter to President-elect Biden on Human Fetal Tissue Research (Every Life Foundation Sign-On)
• 1/1/2021 – Safe Step Act Endorsing Organizations
• 12/29/20 –2022 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (All Copays Count Coalition Sign-On)
• 12/28/20 – 2022 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
• 12/22/20 – Patient and Provider Groups Oppose Most Favored Nations Rule (Part B Access for Seniors and Physicians (ASP) Coalition Sign-On) 
• 12/4/20 – Letter to support Step Therapy reform federally (Federal Step Therapy Coalition Sign-On) 
• 11/3/20 – Letter to WEA Trust opposing their implementation of copay accumulator adjustors 
• 09/21/20 – Making Admission or Placement Determinations Based on Sex in Facilities Under Community Planning and Development Housing Programs 
• 08/31/20 – Coalition Letter to HHS on Human Fetal Tissue Research (Coalition Sign-On) 
• 08/19/20 – Patient Group Letter to OIG on Medicare Part D Copay Assistance (AARDA Sign-On) 
• 08/14/20 – Reauthorization of Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PUDFA)
• 7/28/20 – NIH Human Fetal Tissue Research Comments
• 7/20/20 – Comments to Congressional Leadership about concerns regarding the Medicare Part D Out-Of-Pocket Cap (Project LOOP Sign-On)
• 7/20/20 – Comments to CMS about proposed changes to Medicaid (ATAP Sign-On)
• 7/17/20 – Comments to CMS about proposed changes to Medicaid and Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 7/1/20 – Letter to Congress asking for legislation to delay the implementation of the 2021 NBPP (Chronic Care Coalition Sign-on)
• 6/26/20 – Comments on HR 6930, the MADE in America act of 2020
• 6/26/20 –GHLF Comments to Senator Lamar Alexander about Paid Family Leave Policies
• 6/15/20 – Letter to FDA and NIH about Pain Treatments and the SUPPORT Act (Healthy Women Sign-On Letter)
• 6/15/20 – CDC Request for Comment about Management of Acute and Chronic Pain
• 5/22/20 – Letter to CMS about Part D Modernization “Smoothing” Demonstration (Alliance for Aging Research Sign-On)
• 4/14/20 – Letter to Leadership of House Subcommittee on Defense about Defense Health Research Programs
• 4/14/20 – Letter to Leadership of Senate Subcommittee on Defense about Defense Health Research Programs
• 4/8/20 – FDA/FTC Workshop on a Competitive Marketplace for Biosimilars
• 4/6/20 – 2021 and 2022 Policy and Technical Changes to Medicare Advantage Program (ATAP Sign-On)
• 4/2/20 –Promotional Labeling and Advertising Considerations for Prescriptions Biological Reference and Biosimilar Products
• 3/6/20 – Safe Step Act Coalition Letter (Coalition Sign-On)
• 3/2/20 – 2021 Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters
• 3/2/20 – 2021 Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters (I Am Essential Sign-On)
• 3/2/20 – 2021 Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters (ATAP Sign-On)
• 1/24/20 – Transparency in Coverage Comments to CMS (ATAP Sign-On)
• 12/20/19 – Patient-Focused Drug Development: Methods to Identify What is Important to Patients
• 12/9/19 – House Resolution 3, Drug Price Negotiation and Biosimilar Pricing
• 11/18/19 – Proposed changes to Medicare Part D tiers
• 9/27/19 – Comments to CMS about Proposed Changes to Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems (Headache & Migraine Policy Forum Sign-On)
• 9/16/19 – Comments regarding proposed Changes to NIH Requirements Regarding Proposed Human Fetal Tissue Research (Sign-On)
• 9/9/19 – House Resolution 3107, Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2019 (Coalition Sign-On)
• 8/15/19 – FDA Draft Guidance: Opioid Analgesic Drugs: Consideration for Benefit-Risk Assessment Framework
• 8/13/19 – Nondiscrimination in Health and Health Education Programs or Activities
• 7/10/19 – Utah 1115 Medicaid Waiver to implement a Per Capita Cap
• 7/10/19 – Colorado 1332 Medicaid Waiver to implement a Reinsurance Program
• 7/2/19 – North Dakota 1332 Medicaid Waiver to implement a Reinsurance Program
• 7/1/19 – Idaho Coverage Choice Waiver Application
• 6/11/19 – Comments opposing new policies on Research Regarding Human Fetal Tissue (Sign-On)
• 4/8/19 – Removal of the Safe Harbor Protection for Rebates Involving Prescription Pharmaceuticals and the Creation of New Safe Harbor Protections for Certain Point-of-Sale Reductions in Price on Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Certain Pharmacy Benefit Manager Service Fees
• 4/2/19 – Removal of the Safe Harbor Protection for Rebates Involving Prescription Pharmaceuticals and the Creation of New Safe Harbor Protections for Certain Point-of-Sale Reductions in Price on Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Certain Pharmacy Benefit Manager Service Fees (ATAP Sign-On)
• 4/1/19 – Pain Management Best Practices
• 3/27/19 – RFI Regarding Grandfathered Group Health Plans and Grandfathered
• 3/26/19 – Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions and Making Health Care More Affordable Act (Coalition Sign-On)
• 3/19/19 – Patient Engagement on Clinical Trials; Public Workshop
• 2/19/19 – Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters 2020 (I Am Essential Coalition Sign-On)
• 2/19/19 – Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters 2020 (Coalition Sign-On)
• 2/5/19 – Framework for Real-World Evidence Program
• 1/25/19 – Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses
• 1/17/19 – Healthy People 2030
• 1/16/19 – Meeting of the Bone, Reproductive, and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee to discuss Romosozumab
• 1/15/19 – Oklahoma 1115 Medicaid Waiver (Coalition Sign-On)
• 1/11/19 – Joint Meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee Meeting to discuss Febuxostat
• 1/8/19 – ACA Market Program Integrity and Subsidy Eligibility Issues
• 1/4/19 – Virginia 1115 Medicaid Waiver (Coalition Sign-On)

State Comments

• 9/19/23 – Comments to Colorado State Drug Review Board on Enbrel 
• 7/14/22 – Comments to Governor Abbott about Methotrexate Access
• 2/8/22 – Washington Senate Bill 5888, Share the Savings
• 2/8/22 – Washington Senate Bill 5610, Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 1/26/22 – Washington Senate Bill 5532, Regulating Upper Payment Limits
• 10/18/21 – New York S.4111/A.4668, Relating to Non-Medical Switching
• 10/18/21 – Michigan HB. 4353, Relating to Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 10/13/21 – Group Sign-On Letter in Support of New York Non-Medical Switching Reform
• 10/6/21 – Written Testimony to OH House Commerce and Labor Committee on HB 435, Oppose
• 5/13/21 – Rhode Island Senate Bill 859, Copay Accumulator Adjustor Ban
• 5/5/21 – North Carolina Gout Medication Coverage Policies (Alliance for Gout Awareness Sign-On)
• 5/5/21 – South Carolina Gout Medication Coverage Policies (Alliance for Gout Awareness Sign-On)
• 4/16/21 – Florida House Bill 1373; Rare Disease Advisory Council (NORD Sign-On)
• 3/15/21 – South Carolina House Bill 3956, Rare Disease Advisory Council
• 3/9/21 – Connecticut Senate Bill 1003, Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 3/2/21 – Rhode Island House Bill 5438, Coalition Testimony in Support of Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 2/5/21 – New Mexico House Bill 129A, Copay Accumulator Adjustor Ban 
• 11/23/20 – Letter to support Step Therapy reform in Massachusetts (American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network Sign-On) 
• 7/17/20 – California AB 1710, Expanding Pharmacists Ability to Vaccinate
• 7/2/20 – Letter to Massachusetts Health Policy Commission Studying Copay Assistance (New England Hemophilia Association Sign-On)
• 6/17/20 – New York S.8182A, Expanding Pharmacists Ability to Vaccinate
• 6/15/20 – Utah HB 106, Supporting the Utah Rare Disease Advisory Council
• 5/15/20 – Letter to Ohio Drug Transparency and Affordability Advisory Council about Patient Burdens (ACS Sign-On)
• 4/7/20 – Executive Order on Ohio House Bill 469, Copay Accumulator Adjustor Ban (Patient Organizations Sign-On)
• February 2020 – Maryland House Bill 1360 / Senate Bill 623, Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 2/26/20 – Oklahoma HB 3737 – Oklahomans for Patient Access Letter Against Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 2/21/20 – Wisconsin Assembly Bill 114, Relating to PBM Transparency
• 2/21/20 – Indiana Senate Bill 241, Relating to PBM Transparency
• 2/13/20 – Iowa House File 2089, Relating to Non-Medical Switching
• 1/24/20 – Ohio House Bill 469, Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 12/3/19 –North Carolina Senate Bill 432, Increasing Transparency for PBMs (ATAP Sign-On)
• 12/3/19 – Massachusetts Senate Bill 2409, Increasing Transparency in the Drug Chain (ATAP Sign-On)
• 6/17/19 – New Jersey Senate bill 1236, Adding a “Philosophical Belief” Exemption to State Vaccination Requirement
• 6/17/19 – Iowa House Bill 0448, Adding a “Philosophical Belief” Exemption to State Vaccination Requirement
• 6/17/19 – Oregon Senate Bill 139, Relating to Utilization Management
• 6/17/19 – Vermont House Bill 0238, Removing the “Religious Belief” Exemption from State Vaccination Requirements
• 5/24/19 – New York Senate Bill 2994, Removing the “Religious Belief” Exemption from State Vaccination Requirements
• 4/16/19 – New Hampshire Senate Bill 63, Relating to Rebate Pass-Throughs
• 3/21/19 – Letter to Florida Insurance Commissioner regarding Step Therapy
• 3/20/19 – West Virginia House Bill 2770, Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 3/20/19 – Illinois Senate Bill 652, Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 3/19/19 – Washington House Bill 1879, Relating to Step Therapy
• 2/20/19 – Arizona House Bill 2166, Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 2/14/19 – Wyoming Medicaid Work Requirement (Coalition Sign-On)
• 2/11/19 – Virginia House Bill 2515, Banning Copay Accumulator Adjustors
• 2/8/19 – Proposed Mississippi Medicaid Patient Advisory Council (Coalition Sign-On)
• 2/7/19 – New York Senate Bill 2849, Relating to Non-Medical Switching
• 1/31/19 – Indiana Senate Bill 585, Relating to Non-Medical Switching
• 1/22/19 – South Carolina 1115 Medicaid Waiver (Coalition Sign-On)
• 1/14/19 – Wisconsin LRB-0350/1, Relating to Step Therapy

COVID-19-Related Comments

• 8/11/21 – Letter to Stop Vaccine Disinformation (Alliance for Aging Research Sign-On)
• 7/27/21 – Comments to Senate HELP Committee about Medications in Emergencies (Epilepsy Foundation Sign-On)
• 2/5/21 – Letter to Congress to include the Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act in the next relief package (American Academy of Pediatrics Sign-On Letter) 
• 12/22/20 – Organizations call for LGBTQI Data Collection & Targeted Outreach in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Efforts (National LGBT Cancer Network Sign-On) 
• 12/4/20 – Letter to Congressional Leadership Urging Support for the Community Immunity during COVID-19 Act and the VACCINES Act (American Academy of Pediatrics Sign-On Letter)
• 7/10/20 – Letter to Congressional Leadership about Policy Recommendations to Accommodate and Protect Immunocompromised Patients (Immune Deficiency Foundation Sign-On)
• 7/2/20 – Comments to CMS about Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to COVID-19
• 6/3/20 – Letter to Congressional Leadership about Prior Authorization and COVID-19
• 5/29/20 – Letter to CMS about Step Therapy concerns during COVID-19
• 5/29/20 – Comments to CMS about Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
• 4/15/20 – Letter to Congressional Leadership to ask for increased funding and support for CDC and NIH (Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Sign-On)
• 4/9/20 – Expansion of Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Sign-On)
• 4/7/20 – Letter to Congressional leadership for the VACCINES Act of 2019 (H.R. 2862) (American Academy of Pediatrics Sign-On)
• 4/1/20 – Letter to State Medicaid Directors asking for more state action with regards to Coronavirus (Aimed Alliance Sign-On)
• 4/1/20 – Letter to Governors asking for more state action with regards to Coronavirus (Aimed Alliance Sign-On)
• 3/31/20 – Recommendations for Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Usage (American College of Rheumatology Sign-On)
• 3/27/20 – Association for Accessible Medicines Sign-On Letter to Oppose the “Buy American” Executive Order
• 3/23/20 – Letter to state Governors, Insurance Commissioners, Medicaid Directors, and Executive Directors of State Boards of Pharmacy with regards to the Coronavirus Relief Efforts (Every Life Foundation Sign-On)
• 3/21/20 – Letter to Senate About Expanding Medicare to Cover In-Home Infusions during Coronavirus Pandemic