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Hemophilia of Georgia presents programs, 340B participation and telehealth expansion to committee
Summary
Hemophilia of Georgia described services for people with bleeding disorders, participation in the 340B program, a client assistance program and a $400,000 annual grant from the state Department of Public Health that helps patients pay premiums and deductibles. The group said it treats about 2,000 patients in Georgia and highlighted newly expanded
Michelle Condie, senior director of advocacy for Hemophilia of Georgia, briefed the House Health Committee on the nonprofit’s programs, federal‑program participation and recent expansion of telehealth services.
Condie said Hemophilia of Georgia has provided services in the state for more than 50 years and now personally treats about 2,000 patients in Georgia. The organization participates in the federal 340B program and uses pharmacy revenues to fund patient assistance and wraparound services, Condie said. She told the committee the typical cost of care for a person with a bleeding disorder in a “healthy year” is between $300,000 and $500,000 and that costs can exceed $1 million in the event of hospitalization or complications.
The group described two internal assistance programs: a client assistance program that helps insured patients with deductibles and co‑pays (eligibility noted in testimony as up to 500% of the federal poverty line) and an insurance premium assistance program for uninsured patients (eligibility described as between 133% and 500% of the federal poverty line). Condie said the organization also operates emergency assistance for rent, dental, supplies and other needs and provides social work and nursing outreach across the state.
Condie said the nonprofit receives about $400,000 per year from the Department of Public Health to support insurance premium and deductibles assistance and that the group helps connect patients to five hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) in Georgia plus two hybrid telehealth sites in Savannah and Perry. She said the 340B‑funded programs allowed the organization to reconnect more than 200 patients who had not been seen in years and that telehealth/remote services improved access for people who previously could not travel to centralized care.
Condie outlined policy priorities including protecting 340B program funds, expanding telehealth and broadband access, mental‑health support and attention to gene‑therapy developments in the bleeding‑disorders community.
The committee thanked Condie for the presentation; no committee action was taken during the session.
