As members of the medical community in the state of Illinois, we are deeply concerned that soaring copays for phototherapy treatment are preventing patients from accessing this safe, effective, first-line treatment for patients with psoriasis. 

Phototherapy for psoriasis is a relatively inexpensive treatment, yet copayments continue to rise while the burden of that cost shifts to consumers. As a result, many psoriasis patients are faced with hefty payments of $50 or more per treatment. With patients usually following a regimen of three treatments a week, out-of-pocket cost can amount to $600 dollars a month. These high copayments are keeping patients from using phototherapy, and as a result, they either opt out of treatment entirely or prematurely move to other therapies that may bring greater risk and/or expense.

Psoriasis, the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the country, is a non-contagious, chronic, inflammatory, painful, often disfiguring and disabling disease for which there is no cure. It requires steadfast treatment and lifelong attention. 

Unless copayments are reduced or eliminated, we risk losing a critical treatment for psoriasis. Patients cannot be expected to pay larger and larger portions of the cost involved in order to access phototherapy, and medical providers cannot be expected to maintain a service for which utilization is decreasing. We respectfully urge you in the next session of the Illinois General Assembly to work with State Senator Maggie Crotty and State Representative Lou Lang, and other members of the Assembly toward a fair solution for patients, doctors, and insurers that would ensure equal access to phototherapy treatment.

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