San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force

San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force

Minutes November 9, 2015

San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force

In Attendance:Absent Members:Guests:

Jim BantaMadeline GriffisMercedes Ascarate

Dan BerrnerColleen Brannon

Jay FournierKatie Burk

Ray GoldsteinTamela Brown

Pauli Gray Melinda Mossar

Theresa HughesJanice Strossheim

Robin Roth

Welcome, Introductions, Announcements:

Jay Fournierannouncements regarding AbbVie:

  • Even though AbbVie no longer have HepC Community Educators, they do have Nurse Educators availablenor is the HepCEducate.com site Nurse
  • AbbVie still offers some Patient Assistance financial support (see

Clarification from Melinda and Tamela from Gilead, about what Gilead will and won’t do regarding their patient assistance program (SupportPath), which is:

  • Undocumented – yes
  • Healthy San Francisco (HSF) – yes
  • Healthy Workers - no
  • Recommended to sign-up with SupportPath regardless of what insurance you have because they may be able to direct you to other financial resources, such as private foundations, etc.

Upcoming events related to AASLD:

  • Beyond the Treatment: Creative Approaches to Hepatitis C Care and Enhanced Patient Engagement
  • Friday, November 13 3:30-5:30pm @ AIDS Foundation
  • CME certified symposium highlighting a variety of tools to help effectively manage & engage patients with HCV, with goal of cure.
  • National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable Reception
  • Sunday, November 15, 2015 5:00-8:00pm
  • BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE CLINIC: The Importance of Collaboration with Community Organizations to Address Viral Hepatitis
  • Monday, November 16 6:30-8:30pm
  • The importance of collaboration with community organizations to address viral hepatitis will be discussed, focusing on a number of programs implemented to increase hepatitis B and C vaccinations, screening, testing and linkage to care

Shanti Project (shanti.org)

Shanti is now taking referrals for those who are mono-infected with HCV to be connected with their Care Navigators and Client Advocates. Services include:

  • Practical and emotional support
  • Support with treatment adherence
  • Accompaniment to medical appointments
  • Referrals to other services
  • Advocacy within the service provision system

Contact information: Eric Sutter 415-674-4754

Senate Finance Committee to look into medication price hike

A special congressional committee launchedaninvestigation ofpharmaceutical pricingWednesday, focusingon recent medicationcosthikesat four companies.

Amid cost complaints from patients and the medical community,theSenate Special Committee on Agingsent letters seekinginformation fromValeant Pharmaceuticals International(VRX),Turing Pharmaceuticals,Retrophin(RTRX) andRodelis Therapeutics.The companies have been the subject of numerous media reports about drugpricing.

In particular the panel is looking into the following issues:

  • Substantial price increases on recently acquired off-patent drugs;
  • Mergers and acquisitions within the pharmaceutical industry that have sometimes led to dramatic increases in off-patent drug prices; and
  • The Food and Drug Administration’s role in the drug approval process for generic drugs, the agency’s distribution protocols, and, if necessary, its off-label regulatory regime.

BriefReports

• CMS letter to Ensure Access to HCV Meds with Medicaid

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week issued a letter to state Medicaid programs stating that they are expected to cover new interferon-free antiviral therapies for hepatitis C without undue restrictions, as well as a letter to the pharmaceutical companies that make these drugs asking about purchasing arrangements to ensure wider access.

The letter to state Medicaid directors "reminds states of their obligation to provide access to these promising therapies…based on the medical evidence, and that they have tools available to manage their costs," CMS acting administrator Andy Slavittwrote in a blog post. The letter to manufacturers "asks them to provide us with information on pricing arrangements and asks them for ideas to support the provision of these lifesaving medications to Medicaid programs at sustainable prices."

• Medicines Patent Pool Expands Mandate to HCV & TB

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), the world’s only voluntary licensing mechanism in public health, announced an expansion of its mandate today to hepatitis C and tuberculosis medicines. The UNITAID Executive Board, meeting November 4-5 in Geneva, approved the MPP’s proposals to improve access to both life-saving direct acting antivirals (DAAs) to treat hepatitis C and new and re-purposed medicines for tuberculosis. UNITAID created the MPP in 2010 to provide better health options for people living with HIV. To date,MPP has signed agreements for twelve antiretrovirals (ARVs) for countries home to 87-93% of people living with HIV in the developing world.

UpcomingEvents

Advocacy Rallies at AASLD “Liver Conference”

  • Saturday 11/14 and Sunday 11/15

SF Hepatitis C Summit - Theresa

  • Bring names and contact info for people to invite – health care providers, service providers, advocates, people providing for people with HCV
  • Email list currently approximately 45/50
  • Need to have/develop a database
  • Most invitees will be emailed so need name, organization and contact info
  • There will be some personal handwritten invitations
  • Went throught the list and people took responsibility for researching and sending contact info to Colleen

Priority planning for 2016

  • Think about ideas for 2016
  • Robin will send out “carry overs”

7:30Adjourn

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