March is Autoimmune Awareness Month

The Autoimmune Association is on the Hill this Thursday advocating for policies that benefit the 50 million American living with an autoimmune disease.

We are asking members of Congress to:

1. Support the Safe Step Act

• The Autoimmune Association supports policy reforms that curtail delays to care that our patients vitally need by establishing clear timelines for insurer responses to requests for exceptions and ensuring that patients who are successfully using a treatment do not have to switch.

2. Support the HELP Copays Act

• Accumulator and maximizer programs force patients to bear thousands of dollars in increased deductible, copayment, and coinsurance costs that should be satisfied by patient assistance programs. When patients must pay additional payments over and above the maximum annual levels that are supposed to apply, it can cause financial burdens and force patients to delay or forgo medical care.

3. Support the 340B ACCESS Act

• The 340B program lacks transparency. At the Autoimmune Association, we are concerned that a recent review of claims data indicates only 1.4 percent of 340B-eligible prescription discounts were passed on to patients.Not all 340B sites spend 340B profits in ways that benefit patients. PBMs and insurers have also found ways to lower reimbursement to shift 340B revenue to themselves and may even claim manufacturer rebates that were intended to increase savings on prescriptions for patients.

4. Fully Fund the NIH and Expand the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR)

• Funding Autoimmune Research Benefits Patients and Strengthens American Business

Investment in autoimmune research isn’t just about saving lives—it reduces healthcare costs, drives medical innovation, fuels job growth, and keeps the U.S. at the forefront of global biotech leadership.

The Autoimmune Crisis is Growing

• Over 50 million Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases like lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Cases are rising 3–12% annually, particularly among women and young people.
• No cures currently exist, but promising research offers near-term solutions.

 The Economic Burden is Staggering

• 90% of U.S. healthcare spending ($4.5 trillion/year) goes to chronic diseases, including autoimmunity.
• Projected cost: $179 billion in 2025 for 29 diseases, doubling within 15 years without new treatments.
• Rising disability rates, insurance costs, and lost productivity strain the workforce and federal programs.

 Research is the Solution

• NIH-funded discoveries drive breakthrough treatments like CAR-T therapy, now showing potential to cure autoimmune diseases such a Multiple Sclerosis and demonstrate promise in others.
• Unlike private industry, public research fuels early innovation, laying the foundation for medical advances.
• Innovative treatments include:
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Biologic therapies have drastically reduced joint deformities and disability, preserving quality of life, reducing the need for surgeries and long-term disability care, significantly improving patient outcomes.
  • Lupus– B-cell-targeting therapies and biologics have significantly improved disease control, reducing organ damage and prolonging life expectancy.
  • Type 1 diabetes:  Advances in immune-modulating treatments and pancreatic cell transplants are laying the foundation for a future cure.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Targeted biologics and small-molecule inhibitors are reducing the need for surgeries and hospitalizations.

Autoimmune Research Strengthens the U.S. Economy

• Every $1 invested in NIH research generates $2.46 in economic activity. In FY 2023 alone, NIH funding:
  • Generated $92.89 billion in economic output.
  • Supported over 400,000 jobs nationwide.
  • Fueled a $1.55 trillion biotech and pharmaceutical industry that employs millions.

• NIH research directly supports:
  • 60,000+ grants awarded annually to 300,000+ researchers at 2,500 institutions.
  • Innovation and job creation across biotech, healthcare, and life sciences.
• NIH funding drives U.S. innovation:
  • 76 patents per $100 million invested, fueling startups and new technologies.
  • $600 million in additional R&D per 76 patents, multiplying economic returns.
  • NIH-funded patents deliver 20% more value than other U.S. patents.