February 3, 2021

NJ Life Sciences Community to CMS: Withdraw MFN Model As the “Most-Favored Nation” model works its way through the legal system, the comment period for the interim final rule seeking to implement the model concluded on January 26. Members of New Jersey’s biopharmaceutical community submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) imploring the agency to withdraw the demonstration from consideration. The letter stated that "the MFN model will significantly curtail Patient access to necessary and lifesaving treatments” and "as envisioned would most certainly reduce access for American Patients to biopharmaceutical innovation.” We look forward to working with our New Jersey delegation on policies to support both innovation and Patient access.

President Biden Hits Ground Running with Executive Actions President Biden has issued several executive actions following his January 20th inauguration as the 46th President of the United States. Focusing on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, President Biden has issued executive orders related to using the Defense Production Act for COVID-19 vaccine and supplies manufacturing and announced a plan to purchase an additional 200 million COVID-19 vaccines. Meanwhile, Congress could soon act on President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan to provide additional funding for vaccination and return to school efforts as well as relief to states and direct stimulus payments. Congressional leaders have indicated that using the budget reconciliation process to move the COVID relief plan is a possibility should bipartisan support for the proposal not materialize. Stay tuned for more information on Congressional action on the pandemic.  In addition, President Biden signed an executive order providing for a special ACA enrollment period for federally facilitated marketplaces. The executive order also requires agencies to review existing agency actions to ensure policies are promoting health care affordability and accessibility.  Click here for President Biden’s executive order.

Trump Administration Releases Last Minute Part D “Model” The Trump Administration in its waning days released a Medicare Part D payment model through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to allow Part D plans to restrict the availability of available treatments in the six “protected classes.” The protected classes guarantee Part D Patients the treatments when they need them most, and this change would allow Part D sponsors to treat five of the six protected classes (anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antineoplastics) in the same fashion as they would treat other Part D beneficiaries. This policy change would undeniably lead to barriers to Patient access. We strongly encourage the Biden Administration to overturn this dangerous policy.  Click here for more on this “payment modernization” model.

Governor Murphy Announces Affordability Executive Order, Special Enrollment Period Governor Murphy unveiled Executive Order 217 to direct the Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency to convene an Interagency Health Care Affordability Workgroup. The Workgroup will be led by Shabnam Salih, Director of the Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency and will work to advance “shared goals of improved health care affordability, accessibility, and transparency.” The Executive Order also creates a Health Care Affordability Advisory Board to help guide development and implementation of health cost growth benchmarks as well as health insurance affordability standards.    Additionally, Governor Murphy has announced a special COVID-19 enrollment period for GetCovered.NJ.gov. The COVID-19 Special Enrollment Period will remain open through May 15, 2021.  Click here for more information on the workgroup. Click here for Governor Murphy’s press release on the special enrollment period.

Save the Date: Rare Disease Day in Trenton On March 4, rare disease Patients, families, caregivers and advocates will come together for Rare Disease Day in Trenton. The annual event will be virtual in 2021 and help raise awareness with our policymakers on the impact of rare diseases on Patients and their families. Click here for more information on 2021 Rare Disease Day in Trenton.

We Need Your Help: Support BioNJ Policy and Advocacy Efforts BioNJ is the voice of New Jersey’s life sciences sector in Trenton and Washington. BioNJ's Public Policy Support Series sponsorship opportunities are available for 2021. Sponsorship opportunities help make sure that our message is delivered in both Trenton and Washington, D.C. Help ensure BioNJ continues to deliver our message of improved Patient access and enhanced innovation through a Public Policy Support Series Sponsorship. Click here for more information.

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