Advocacy in Georgia
Hemophilia of Georgia has been actively advocating on the state as well as the national level. Several bills have been introduced into the Georgia General Assembly that would benefit people with bleeding disorders. Some of these bills duplicate the changes enacted by the federal health insurance reform bill.
Hemophilia of Georgia is working to pass SB 316, which would make Medigap insurance available to people under the age of 65 who are on Medicare because of a disability. About half of the states in the U.S. already have this law in place. Coverage for factor concentrate, the medication to treat hemophilia, is provided through Part B of Medicare. Medicare pays for 80% of the cost of the drug. The patient is supposed to pay the remaining 20% as a co-payment. Under this formula, the average person with hemophilia on Medicare has to pay $16,500 each year in co-payments for medication alone. Most Medigap policies provide coverage of Medicare Part B copayment amounts, including those associated with Part B covered drugs, after the beneficiary meets an annual deductible. Making Medigap policies available to disabled people with hemophilia would relieve them of a great financial burden. SB 316 has passed the Georgia Senate and is currently in committee in the Georgia House.
Hemophilia of Georgia would also like to see passage of SB 443, which would set up a legislative oversight committee for the Medicaid managed care companies. These companies frequently deny factor concentrate to people with hemophilia and medication to girls with bleeding disorders. This bill would set up a group of legislators to whom people with bleeding disorders on Medicaid could take their complaints.