THANK YOU and new ACTION ALERT

Your support has been a tremendous help in moving forward Senate Bill #2224. The Joint Committee on Health Care has reported out favorably on the bill and it is now before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Now we need you to please contact members of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means to (listed below) to encourage them to rule favorably on Massachusetts Senate Bill #2224. 

For a copy of a sample letter click onto sample letter

The bill, filed by Senator Steven Tolman, and ten of his Senate colleagues, sets conditions under which the Division of Medical Assistance (Medicaid/MassHealth) administers a required drug prior authorization process. The bill also establishes a Pharmacy and Therapeutics Advisory Committee to oversee the Division’s prior authorization program and allow for public notice and comment. The Epilepsy Foundation of Massachusetts & Rhode Island feels that this period of public comment if crucial before decisions are made as to which drugs are made available to patients.

Some Background

As you may recall, last year the Massachusetts’ Department of Medical Assistance (Medicaid) placed four anti-seizure medications that are appropriately and effectively used in the treatment of epilepsy and seizures on it’s prior approval list. In fact, according to our review, taking into account restrictions on use of brand name products imposed by the state, MassHealth requires prior authorization for 14 of the brand name versions of 23 products that are appropriately used in the treatment of epilepsy. We continue to believe such steps occur at the expense of people’s health and welfare, and ultimately may cost the taxpayers of Massachusetts more in emergency room visits, hospital bills, lost work time etc. than the money saved in drug costs.

In addition to opposing these restrictions on much needed medication, representatives of the Epilepsy Foundation of Massachusetts & Rhode Island were equally disturbed to discover that these decisions were made by Medicaid with no input from medical experts in the field of epilepsy or patients who rely on these meds.

Concerned that the Massachusetts Department of Medical Assistance continues to initiate a very restrictive preferred drug list for MassHealth patients with no public input or sufficient clinical expertise in the Department of Medical Assistance (DMA) decision-making process, the Epilepsy Foundation of Massachusetts & Rhode Island joined the AFORM (Advocates for the Open Review of Medicaid) Coalition. AFORM is a group of patient advocacy organizations dedicated to increasing awareness of the closed process by which Medicaid restricts vital medications and treatment services for patients. AFORM is united in the need for an open process when it comes to how Medicaid decisions are made

AFORM feels that current DMA initiatives are unnecessarily restrictive and deny access to much needed medications/treatments. As a result we do not understand the need for a “closed door” decision-making process shrouded in secrecy with little or no opportunity for public and clinical input. Patients, their families and care providers are entitled to a decision making process that is open and clearly understood.

Massachusetts is the only New England state that does not allow for public and expert medical input prior to decisions being made. Patients, their families and care providers, and indeed, all citizens of the Commonwealth are entitled to an open and accountable process when it comes to decisions about health care. 

We have included a sample letter for your use. Please personalize the letter with your own story – people living with epilepsy, their family members and medical care providers are truly the experts when it comes to understating living with and treating epilepsy. Your elected officials need to hear from you! We encourage you to invite your friends, colleagues and family members to contact members of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means also. Only when they hear from a sufficient number of people will this important issue get its deserved attention. People with epilepsy are depending upon you.

Thank you in advance for you support.

To keep posted on our progress with this issue please visit the Foundation’s website at http://www.efmri.org.

Following is the list of the members on the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. Simply click on each link to access their mailing address and phone number. Letters are the most helpful, and can be faxed to the Senators’ office, followed by phone calls. E-mails are the least effective; yet if that is all you have time for, please send them your message to RULE FAVORABLY ON SENATE BILL #2224.

Senate Committee on Ways and Means

Room 212
State House
Boston, MA 02133

Telephone: (617) 722-1481

Chairperson - Senator Therese Murray of Plymouth and Barnstable
Vice – Chair Senator Steven Panagiotakos of First Middlesex
Senator Steven Tolman of Second Suffolk and Middlesex
Senator Robert Antonioni of Worcester and Middlesex
Senator Stephen Brewer of Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin
Senator Susan Fargo of Third Middlesex
Senator Cheryl Jacques of Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex
Senator David Magnani of Second Middlesex and Norfolk
Senator Michael Morrissey of Norfolk and Plymouth
Senator Andrea Nuciforo of Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin
Senator Marc Pacheco of First Plymouth and Bristol
Senator Pamela Resor of Middlesex and Worcester
Senator Charles Shannon of Second Middlesex
Senator Dianne Wilkerson of Second Suffolk
Senator Michael Knapik of Second Hampden and Hampshire
Senator Jo Ann Sprague of Bristol and Norfolk
Senator Richard Tisei of Middlesex and Essex

For further information or questions please contact Bill Murphy at the Foundation at bmurphy@efmri.org.

Sending Bill an email to let him know you contacted the Committee Members would be appreciated.