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 Requests a meeting with the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Board to assist in patient involvement

Published: Sep 12, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Out of Pocket Prescription Drug Costs

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NORD joins 27 patient advocacy organizations in submitting comments to regarding Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance; Independent, Noncoordinated Excepted Benefits Coverage; Level-Funded Plan Arrangements; and Tax Treatment of Certain Accident and Health Insurance (CMS-9904-P)

Published: Sep 11, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD joins patient advocacy organizations in submitting comments for the Request for Information Regarding Medical Payment Products (CMS–2023

Published: Sep 11, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD joins leading patient advocacy organizations in providing support for Washington’s Medicaid Transformation Project Amendment

Published: Sep 8, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers

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NORD signs on to a letter regarding the Commonwealth Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plan—Public Comment Period; Notice 2023-14

Published: Sep 1, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Diagnostics Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies

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NORD submits comments on CMS National Coverage Analysis Evidence Review and Coverage with Evidence Development Guidelines

Published: Aug 21, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD joins the Amicus Brief from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for the Haller v HHS case

Published: Aug 8, 2023

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NORD submits comments to Docket No. FDA-2022-D-2870 for “Decentralized Clinical Trials for Drugs, Biological Products, and Devices”

Published: Aug 1, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies

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NORD joins 34 patient advocacy organizations in urging the Biden administration to take immediate steps to protect patients’ Medicaid coverage

Published: Jul 28, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage

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NORD sends a letter to the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Council with recommendations to address prescription drug costs

Published: Jul 28, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies

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NORD joins 12 national patient advocacy organizations submit a letter to the Senate Finance Committee regarding the Modernizing & Ensuring PBM Accountability Act

Published: Jul 26, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD signs on to a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding USPSTF modernization and FY24 funding

Published: Jul 26, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD signs on to a letter to the House Appropriations Committee regarding USPSTF modernization and FY24 funding

Published: Jul 26, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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Delaware Enacts Law to Address Needs of Rare Disease Patients and Families

Published: Jul 26, 2023
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD submits comments to CMS on proposed changes to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program

Published: Jul 25, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage

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NORD joins 21 patient organizations in submitting comments to the Senate HELP committee on including protections for individuals with chronic conditions in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) reauthorization

Published: Jul 21, 2023
Tagged in: COVID-19

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NORD joins 215 organizations and Children’s Hospitals in encouraging members of Congress to support the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act

Published: Jul 20, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Out-of-State Care for Children on Medicaid

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NORD and 80+ patient advocacy and provider organizations in the All Copays Count Coalition (ACCC) request the Senate to include HELP Copays Act in any PBM reform package that comes to vote

Published: Jul 19, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD joins leading patient and provider organizations in urging NY Governor Hochul to promptly sign S1196

Published: Jul 17, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies

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NORD joins 64 organizations in urging Ohio House of Representatives to move HB24 forward without the addition of unnecessary medical necessity criteria and an arbitrary monetary cap on testing costs

Published: Jul 17, 2023

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NORD joins other 19 other patient organizations in providing comments to CMS on Arkansas’ ARHOME Section 1115 Amendment

Published: Jul 14, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers

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NORD submits comments on “Pediatric Drug Development: Regulatory Considerations — Complying With the Pediatric Research Equity Act and Qualifying for Pediatric Exclusivity Under the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act”

Published: Jul 13, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies

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NORD joins 30 other patient organizations in opposition to H.R. 824, the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023

Published: Jul 12, 2023
Tagged in: Telehealth

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NORD joins 35 other patient organizations in submitting comments to White House leadership conveying concerns about nationwide losses in Medicaid coverage

Published: Jul 10, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage

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NORD and 36 patient organizations applaud the Biden administration’s proposed rule to protect patients from short-term health plans

Published: Jul 7, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD provides comments regarding Docket No. FDA-2023-D-0026- “Patient-Focused Drug Development: Incorporating Clinical Outcome Assessments Into Endpoints for Regulatory Decision-Making”

Published: Jul 5, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Clinical Trials

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NORD joins leading patient organizations in providing comments on New York’s Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver

Published: Jul 5, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Affordable Care Act Section 1332 Waivers

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Final Inflation Reduction Act Guidance Risks Stifling Innovation for Rare Disease Community

Published: Jun 30, 2023
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage Orphan Drug Act Research

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NORD submits comments to the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) on proposed revisions to its Value Assessment Framework

Published: Jun 30, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Value-based Pricing Assessments

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NORD and leading patient organizations submit comments to CMS on the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Managed Care Access Proposed Rule

Published: Jun 29, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD joins 25 other patient organizations in submitting comments to CMS on the Medicaid Access Proposed Rule

Published: Jun 29, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD joins patient organizations in sending a letter to the House of Representatives regarding concerns about the detrimental impact of policies included in HR 2868, the Association Health Plans Act; HR 2813, the Self-Insurance Protection Act, and HR 3799, the CHOICE Arrangement Act

Published: Jun 21, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD joins 22 other organizations in sending a letter to the House Energy & Commerce Committee conveying patient community concerns about the detrimental impact of HR 824, the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act

Published: Jun 21, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD submits comments to CMS on the proposed counteroffer phase of the Medicare drug price negotiation program

Published: Jun 20, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines

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NORD joins many patient organizations in thanking those who helped protect Medicaid for millions of Americans

Published: Jun 14, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD submits comments to CMS on the FY2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Proposed Rule

Published: Jun 9, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD sends letter to CMS supporting Part D Out-of-Pocket Caps

Published: Jun 5, 2023
Tagged in: Out of Pocket Prescription Drug Costs

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National Organization for Rare Disorders Urges Congress To Protect Funding for Rare Disease Research, Commends Exclusion of Work Requirements for Medicaid in Debt Ceiling Deal

Published: Jun 2, 2023
Tagged in: Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Appropriations Ensuring Adequate Funding for NIH Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Health Insurance Coverage

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NORD and leading patient organizations urge the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to protect Medicaid coverage by pausing redetermination in states with high procedural termination rates

Published: May 31, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD submits comments to the FDA on Clinical Trial Considerations to Support Accelerated Approval of Oncology Therapeutics

Published: May 26, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway

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NORD provides comments in support of the FDA’s Patient Focused Drug Development Listening Meeting ‘Methods and Approaches for Capturing Post-Approval Safety and Efficacy Data on Cell and Gene Therapy Products’

Published: May 25, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science Research

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NORD Submits Comments to the NJ Governor Regarding the Establishment of the NJ Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC)

Published: May 23, 2023
Tagged in: Rare Disease Advisory Councils (RDACs)

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NORD and 11 national patient advocacy organizations submit comments opposing work requirements in Arkansas’ ARHOME 1115 Amendment.

Published: May 23, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD and 53 advocacy organizations urge the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to pause Florida’s current Medicaid redetermination process

Published: May 23, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD submits comments on the Information Collection Request (ICR) Form for Negotiation Data Elements under Section 11001 and 11002 of the Inflation Reduction Act

Published: May 22, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD and other health organizations applaud Stay on Braidwood v Becerra lawsuit to protect coverage for preventive services

Published: May 15, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD and patient organizations concerned by the loss of Medicaid coverage for nearly 75,000 Arkansans

Published: May 11, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage

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NORD and leading patient organizations urge the Senate HELP committee to pass meaningful PBM reform

Published: May 10, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable Medicines

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NORD and 78 patient organizations send letter to the HELP committee supporting the Retaining Access and Restoring Exclusivity (RARE) Act

Published: May 2, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science

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NORD releases a statement for the record in support of S. 1214, the Retaining Access and Restoring Exclusivity (RARE) Act

Published: May 2, 2023
Tagged in: Access to Affordable, Adequate Coverage Access to Innovative Medicines and Therapies Advancing Rare Disease Research and Regulatory Science

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