Policy Positions

The following documents and links demonstrate the depth and breadth of the National Psoriasis Foundation's involvement in advocating for policies at the federal and state level that will advance progress towards better treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and ultimately achieve a cure.

• Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act of 2009 (H.R. 930/S. 571): Learn more about PPARCCA, the first and only bill specific to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in Congress.
  
• Framework for psoriasis patient registry (PDF): The first-ever psoriasis patient registry at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) received an initial funding from Congress for 2010.
  
• Comments on NIAMS Long Range Plan (PDF): National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease (NIAMS) is the main federal agency responsible for psoriasis research.
  
• Comments on Healthy People 2020 (PDF): Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for promoting health and preventing disease.
  
• Letter to Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (PDF): NIAMS is part of the NIH, and the National Psoriasis Foundation welcomes the appointment of Dr. Collins.
  
• Comments on SSA Medical Criteria for Evaluating Skin Disorders (PDF): Based on feedback from medical professionals and individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
  
• Letter to President Obama on health care reform (PDF): Lays out the importance of changes in the health care system for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
  
• Medicare Part D out-of-pocket costs: The National Psoriasis Foundation supports several important pieces of legislation that would help people with high-cost medications.
  
• National Health Council and health care reform: The National Psoriasis Foundation is aligned with NHC health care reform initiatives and policy priorities related to accessing health care.
  
• New York S.5000 on specialty drug tiers (PDF): Thanking Senator Duane of New York for legislation that would prohibit insurers from charging very high copays for drugs like biologics.
  
• Massachusetts global payment system (PDF): Expressing concern to the Governor and Legislature on health care financing changes that could impact patients access to care.
  
• Illinois legislative initiative to reduce phototherapy copayments: More about the Foundation's ground breaking state legislative strategy.