Legislative Update: AB 824
As we approach the end of the legislative session, there is one bill with provisions that could hurt patient access to treatment. Assembly Bill 824 creates an unprecedented change to our legal system that makes a new “California Only” system to resolve global patent disputes between pharmaceutical companies. This could disrupt access to generic medicines or delay them from coming to the market in California earlier.
This is a complicated topic, if you’re interested in learning more please reach out to a member of the CPAT team or call your local Assemblymember.
Los Angeles LGBT Center
The LGBT Center in Hollywood, California has undergone major renovations this past spring. In their new facilities, they provide health care and social services to young people, those experiencing homelessness, and seniors, with an emphasis on supporting those in the LGBT community. Currently building more affordable housing for seniors and expanding their career preparation offerings, check out lalgbtcenter.org to learn more.
Tools you can use: Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT)
Launched in May 2019, the Medicine Assistance Tool, or MAT, is an online platform that helps patients, caregivers and providers with prices for medicines, including a search engine to connect patients to medicine-specific financial assistance tools. In addition, MAT has resources to help patients navigate their insurance coverage.
How can you use MAT? Visit www.MAT.org to get started. Once on the website, patients and caregivers will be asked to input some basic information into the search engine including prescription medicines, age, income and current insurance coverage (if any). MAT will produce search results that identify programs and resources that might be able to help.
MAT is designed to help patients, caregivers and health care providers learn more about the resources available through the various biopharmaceutical industry programs. MAT is not its own patient assistance program, but rather a search engine for many of the support programs and resources that the biopharmaceutical industry has offered for decades.
Back to School & National Immunization Awareness Month
It’s August which means that students are headed back to school, with fresh pencils, new notebooks and up to date vaccinations! This month is National Immunization Awareness Month, a key time to make sure you are up to date on all the vaccines you need to stay healthy. You have the power to protect yourself and your family against serious diseases like whooping cough, cancers caused by HPV, and pneumonia with vaccines.
If you’re not headed back to school, it is still a good reminder to check in to make sure your immunizations are current. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has an assessment tool for adults where you can get a list of vaccines you may need based on your answers to a set of questions. Check it out and use the hashtag #ivax2protect to share why you choose to vaccinate.
Partner Spotlight: The Wall las Memorias Project
The Wall Las Memorias Project (TWLMP) is a community health and wellness organization dedicated to serving Latino, LGBT and other underserved populations through advocacy, education and building the next generation of leadership.
Recently, TWLMP celebrated a major milestone. The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks commission voted unanimously to allow the renovation of the AIDS monument in Lincoln Park. This approval paves the way for the rehabilitation, installation of new equipment and minor alterations to the land – most notably a new walkway, irrigation system and landscaping. These renovations ensure that the monument will serve the people of the community for the generations to come. To learn more about the monument, click here.