Access and Affordability are Critical for Millions with Rheumatic Diseases

More than 58.5 million Americans living with rheumatic diseases are often challenged by harmful policies and practices that hinder access doctor-recommended treatments and medicines, complicating affordability and delaying wellness. There are over 100 different rheumatic diseases and, if left untreated, these diseases can cause debilitating joint and tissue damage that can leave someone disabled or even shorten their life.

While many of these diseases are treatable thanks to modern medicine, far too many patients continue to face issues accessing and affording the therapies they need because insurance companies put up arbitrary barriers. Practices such as step therapy and prior authorization interfere with the doctor-patient relationship by forcing patients to obtain approval from their insurer for treatments their doctors have already prescribed.

Meanwhile, insurers have invented new ways to take advantage of the copay assistance patients receive from pharmaceutical manufacturers to afford their medications. Programs such as copay accumulators and copay maximizers divert funds meant for patients into the insurers’ own pockets.

Let My Doctors Decide and the Autoimmune Association continue to partner with rheumatology organizations including disease-specific groups and patient advocates to level the playing field and advocate for changes to insurer-imposed access barriers. This includes supporting legislation at the federal and state levels that would reduce insurer access barriers. At the federal level, the Safe Step Act, Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act, and HELP Copays Act would make meaningful difference in the lives of many people living with rheumatic diseases.

LMDD shares patients and doctors stories who have encountered access barriers and have since become advocates for change. Learn more about Lee-Anna, Tina, Danielle, Dr. Santos and the many others who have dealt with debilitating challenges. We also provide a variety of tools including the Guide to Patient Access Barriers and other resources.  

Join us in supporting the LMDD Patient Principles and Call to Action on behalf of patients, providers, families, and caregivers who continue to battle harmful barriers that hinder access to medications and treatments.

It’s time to put patients first.