Sen. Tammy Duckworth is calling on health plans to do more to boost access for children to a drug that helps treat respiratory syncytial virus. [Health News Illinois]

The Democratic senator wrote in a letter to America’s Health Insurance Plans CEO Matt Eyles that increased access to nirsevimab will help ensure that millions of Americans can receive affordable care ahead of the expected rise in respiratory illnesses this fall.

“What must never be a hindrance to providing children with this potentially life-saving immunization is provider confusion over policies and coverage, or worse, a penny-wise, but deadly-foolish decision to deny coverage of the RSV immunization or subject families to onerous out-of-pocket costs,” she said.

The association should work with its members to cover nirsevimab and with the Biden administration on “clear and urgent guidance on the importance and need for all insurance carriers to update every plan beneficiary of the cost-free RSV immunization coverage," Duckworth said.

The association did not return a request for comment.

 The Food and Drug Administration approved nirsevimab this summer for children younger than 8 months of age born during or entering their first RSV season and for those between 8 and 19 months who remain vulnerable to severe disease through their second RSV season.

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