Memo: August 30, 2022
With most of the Hill being on vacation or recess, August was a quiet policy month for Sick Cells. Nevertheless, we have a few important updates to share about our work.
1. Sick Cells prepared advocates for a Tennessee Pharmacy Advisory Committee Meeting on August 11th.
a. One advocate, a SCD expert clinician in Tennessee, provided oral testimony.
b. Sick Cells submitted written testimony.
c. Current formulary placements for SCD therapies are as follows:
| Droxia | Preferred, Open Access |
| Hydroxyurea | Preferred, Open Access |
| Endari | Non-preferred, Prior Authorization, Step Therapy & Quantity Limits |
| Oxbryta | Non-preferred, Prior Authorization, Step Therapy & Quantity Limits |
| Siklos | Non-preferred, Prior Authorization |
| Adakveo | Not Listed |
d. The board did not recommend any changes to the formulary.
2. The August Ambassador Priority Topic Meeting (PTM) focused on the topic of Access & Coverage.
a. Ambassadors reviewed the basics of insurance coverage & common paint points, and how to make an appeal.
3. Sick Cells released the final report for our Medicaid research project
a. Medicaid Access & Landscape Review for Prescription Drugs Treating Sickle Cell Disease
b. Results will be premiered at the 2022 Coverage for SCD Summit on August 31.