Policy Statements & Letters to Policymakers

For decades, NORD has pursued federal and state policies to improve the lives of Americans impacted by rare diseases. This page is updated daily to provide timely information on our policy efforts. Please contact [email protected] if you have questions or need additional information. 

NORD and 62 Patient Advocacy Organizations Support A1296-A (Paulin)/S1287-A (Persaud) – Establishing a Permanent Rare Disease Advisory Council in New York

Published: Mar 19, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Submits Testimony in Support of Biomarker Legislation in Oregon

Published: Mar 18, 2025
Tagged in: Genetic Testing

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NORD Submits Testimony In Support of S474 (Lawson) – A Bill to Establish a Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) in Rhode Island

Published: Mar 18, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD and 30 Patient Advocacy Organizations Support S474 (Lawson)/H5023 (Kennedy) – Establishing a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Rhode Island

Published: Mar 18, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Joins Letter in Support of HELP Copays Act (S. 864)

Published: Mar 13, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Copay Assistance

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NORD Urges New Mexico to Join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

Published: Mar 13, 2025
Tagged in: Telehealth

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NORD Submits Comments on “Accelerated Approval and Considerations for Determining Whether a Confirmatory Trial is Underway Guidance for Industry”

Published: Mar 10, 2025
Tagged in: FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway Protecting FDA Standards for Safe and Effective Drugs

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NORD Urges Support of Arizona House Bill 2380 to Create the Rare Disease Advisory Council in AZ

Published: Mar 7, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Requests Support for Funding for California’s Jacqueline Marie Zbur Rare Disease Advisory Council

Published: Mar 6, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Joins Leading Patient Groups in Urging Administration to Reverse Decision to Exclude Public Comment Periods

Published: Mar 6, 2025
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science

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NORD Submits Comments on Expedited Program for Serious Conditions — Accelerated Approval of Drugs and Biologics Guidance for Industry

Published: Mar 5, 2025
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway Protecting FDA Standards for Safe and Effective Drugs

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NORD Signs on to Letter to Ensure Robust Appropriations for the NIH and Reaffirm Indirect Cost Reimbursements

Published: Mar 4, 2025
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Appropriations Ensuring Adequate Funding for NIH Public Health Research

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NORD Sends Letter of Support for HF 1501 to Fund Minnesota’s RDAC for FY2026 and FY2027

Published: Mar 4, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Signs Letter in Support of Federally Funded Research

Published: Feb 26, 2025
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Ensuring Adequate Funding for NIH Funding for Ongoing Science Public Health

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NORD Joins Leading Patient Groups in Urging House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee to Pass Meaningful PBM Reform

Published: Feb 25, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines

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NORD Joins Leading Patient Groups in Opposition to Resolution Threatening Medicaid for Millions

Published: Feb 24, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage

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NORD Supports HB1697 to Require the Board of Health to Consider Adding Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) Conditions to Washington’s Newborn Screening Panel

Published: Feb 20, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Diagnostics Newborn Screening

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NORD Send Letter to Excellus BCBS Expressing Concern on Accelerated Approval Policy

Published: Feb 18, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway

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NORD Sends Letter to Independence BCBS Expressing Concern on Accelerated Approval Policy

Published: Feb 18, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway Protecting FDA Standards for Safe and Effective Drugs

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NORD Joins 32 Patient Organizations in Support of HB2380 to Create an RDAC in Arizona

Published: Feb 18, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD CEO Statement: Navigating Proposed Policy Changes and Their Impact on Rare Disease Advocacy

Published: Feb 14, 2025
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Public Health Research

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NORD Supports HB1782 to Require the Department of Health to Consider Adding Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) Conditions to Virginia’s Newborn Screening Panel

Published: Feb 14, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Diagnostics Newborn Screening

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NORD Joins Statement For The Record Urging House Budget Committees to Protect Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care

Published: Feb 14, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage

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NORD Joins Statement For The Record Urging Senate Budget Committee to Protect Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care

Published: Feb 14, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage

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NORD Supports HB1782 to Require the Department of Health to Consider Adding Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) Conditions to Virginia’s Newborn Screening Panel

Published: Feb 10, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Diagnostics Newborn Screening

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NORD Supports HB553 to Ensure Access to Biomarker Testing in Hawaii

Published: Feb 8, 2025
Tagged in: Genetic Testing

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NORD Joins Other Patient Organizations in Oklahoma in Support of Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) Legislation

Published: Feb 8, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Joins Leading Patient Groups in Letter to 119th Congress in Support of PBM Reform

Published: Feb 5, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Out of Pocket Prescription Drug Costs

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NORD Joins Letter to HHS Urging Extension of Colorado Comprehensive Care Waiver

Published: Feb 5, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers

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NORD Supports A1296-A (Paulin)/S1287-A (Persaud) – Establishing a Permanent Rare Disease Advisory Council in the State of New York

Published: Feb 3, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Supports with Amendments RI H.5023 (Kennedy) – Establishing a Rhode Island Rare Disease Advisory Council

Published: Feb 3, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD and Other Patient Organizations Support HB2380 to Create a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Arizona

Published: Jan 31, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD joins 21 other patient groups in statement in support of no-cost preventive care

Published: Jan 30, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD Issues Letter of Support for Vermont H.46 (Stone) to Establish the Vermont Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC)

Published: Jan 29, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Issues Letter Supporting Step Therapy Reform in New Jersey A1825 (Conaway) to Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee

Published: Jan 27, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Utilization Management

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NORD Supports A1296 (Paulin)/S1287 (Persaud) – Establishing a Permanent Rare Disease Advisory Council in the State of New York

Published: Jan 27, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Submits Letter in Support of Oregon HB2457 to Create a Rare Disease Advisory Council

Published: Jan 24, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Joins 19 Patient Organizations in Support of Oregon HB2457 to Create a Rare Disease Advisory Council

Published: Jan 24, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Joins Leading Patient Groups in Letter Detailing Priorities for 119th Congress

Published: Jan 24, 2025
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD Joins Other Patient Organizations Opposing Missouri SB79/HB366 Authorizing the Sale of Unregulated Health Products

Published: Jan 23, 2025
Tagged in: Short-Term, Limited-Duration Health Plans and Association Health Plans

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NORD Submits Letter in Support of Washington SB5064 to Create a Rare Disease Advisory Council

Published: Jan 17, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Submits Letter in Support of Washington HB1238 to Create a Rare Disease Advisory Council

Published: Jan 17, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Urges Nevada Lawmakers to Protect the Rare Disease Advisory Council

Published: Jan 16, 2025
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD Submits Comments to CMS in Response to ICR on MDPNP Written Submissions

Published: Dec 23, 2024
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage Out of Pocket Prescription Drug Costs

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NORD, as a member of the NCATS Alliance, sends letter requesting NCATS be elevated to an Institution at NIH

Published: Dec 20, 2024
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Ensuring Adequate Funding for NIH

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NORD submits comments to FDA on Integrating Randomized Controlled Trials for Drug and Biological Products Into Routine Clinical Practice

Published: Dec 17, 2024
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Clinical Trials Protecting FDA Standards for Safe and Effective Drugs Rare Disease Clinical Trials

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NORD Joins Patient Organizations in Support of Ohio HB24 to Provide Biomarker Testing Coverage

Published: Dec 17, 2024
Tagged in: Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies

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NORD Joins 54 Patient Organizations in Urging Arizona to Protect Biomarker Testing Access

Published: Dec 13, 2024
Tagged in: Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies

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NORD Supports New Jersey Senate Bill 3098 Establishing Coverage for Biomarker Testing

Published: Dec 12, 2024
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Diagnostics Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Genetic Testing Utilization Management

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NORD joins letter urging CMS to implement appropriate guardrails on utilization management in Part D

Published: Dec 12, 2024
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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