Access and Reimbursement Initiatives

In order to ensure RSV monoclonal antibodies would be available to all infants, regardless of socioeconomic status, the State Government Affairs team passed legislative resolutions in Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and New Hampshire asking for the inclusion of RSV monoclonal antibodies within the federal Vaccines for Childrens Program if the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issued infant administration recommendations.

These resolutions included a mandate that a copy of each state’s request would be distributed to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The same resolution was adopted by state legislative caucuses in Texas: TX Women's and Early Childhood Caucuses, Pennsylvania: PA Northeast Delegation, Representing Swiftwater, Massachusetts: MA Black & Women's Caucuses, Maryland: MD Black & Women's Caucuses and Alabama: AL House Democratic Caucus. Also, to further support equity and inclusion, 218 legislators representing 18 states signed proclamations or sent individual letters to the Secretary of HHS, Director of CDC and the Administrator of CMS asking for the inclusion of RSV monoclonal antibodies within the federal VFC program if ACIP issued infant administration recommendations.

Finally, NOBEL – National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, speaking on behalf of legislators in more than 40 states representing 
20 million constituents of all racial backgrounds, passed a resolution urging HHS/CDC/CMS to add RSV mAbs to the federal VFC program if ACIP issues an administration recommendation. These efforts were rewarded in August of 2023 when ACIP added RSV mAbs to the federal VFC program providing access to children who lack health insurance or who otherwise cannot afford the cost of the vaccine.