PI Action alerts & updates ... 1996

104th Congress and HIV/AIDS

Congress Finally Approves 1996 Budget with $52 Million ADAP Increase!!

In late April, Congress finally approved the Fiscal Year 1996 Omnibus Appropriations bill that will fund government programs through September 30, 1996. In a remarkable victory, the bill contains the $52 million emergency increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) requested by President Clinton in February. While this increase falls short of the $75 million identified by experts as the minimum needed to solve the current fiscal crisis in ADAPs nationwide, it will go a long way toward providing newly approved HIV/AIDS treatments for people who might not otherwise be able to afford them. In addition, it demonstrates that there is strong bipartisan support for this life-saving program, which may help advocates obtain increases in state ADAP funding.

In other good news, the approved budget contains increases for all Titles of the Ryan White CARE Act. Title I received a $35.2 million increase over the FY 1995 level, which will help maintain basic HIV/AIDS services in cities hardest hit by the epidemic. In addition to the $52 million ADAP increase, Title II received another $10.7 million over last year’s spending, some of which will also be allocated to funding ADAPs. Title IIIb and Title IV received small increases as well, $4.6 million and $3 million respectively.

Project Inform played a major role in obtaining the emergency increase and the Ryan White addbacks by working with the ADAP Future Funding Working Group in Washington and through PI’s Treatment Action Network nationwide who supported these increases with phone calls, letters, and visits with their elected officials. Congratulations to all who helped make this a reality!

Unfortunately, this bill seriously underfunds the Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS Act (HOPWA). The program only received flat funding ($171 million), while the need and demand for housing services for people with AIDS is increasing significantly. Housing advocates are urging the Clinton Administration review the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) budget and to “reprogram” $25–40 million for HOPWA to help stem drastic cuts in funding resulting from the increase in jurisdictions qualifying for HOPWA grants. Call President Clinton 202-456-1414 and urge him to do everything in his power to find additional funds for this crucial program!

Congress Repeals Mandatory Discharge of HIV+ Servicemembers
As an amendment to the Omnibus Appropriation bill, Congress approved the repeal of the law that called for the discharge of HIV positive servicemembers. This proposal, sponsored by Representative Bob Dornan (R-CA), was signed into law in February as part of the overall Department of Defense (DOD) authorization bill. However, President Clinton, the Department of Justice, and the DOD opposed the discriminatory measure and urged its repeal by Congress. Last week, both the Senate and the House of Representatives approved an amendment by Senators William Cohen (R-Maine) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) that repeals the law before it was enacted. Again, TAN members along with the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) and other national organizations and committed individuals within the military system deserve credit for overturning this discriminatory law!

However, Representative Dornan has vowed to keep this issue alive and is offering a similar amendment to the 1997 DOD Authorization bill. Call your Congressperson and two U.S. Senators and thank them for repealing this hateful measure. Ask them to fight any attempts to pass this legislation in the future!

President Clinton Releases FY 1997 Funding Request for HIV/AIDS Programs
Last month, the President released his FY 1997 budget for HIV/AIDS programs. While the Administration has proposed significant increases for some programs, the funding requests appear to be inadequate for research, care, prevention, and especially for housing. The President has proposed only a 1.7% increase for AIDS research at the National Institutes of Health. There is clearly a need for a greater increase and efforts will focus on educating Congress about the need for more funding.

On a more positive note, the Administration is calling for an increase of roughly $70 million for all four Titles of the Ryan White CARE Act and a $34.7 million increase for prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While these are significant increases, rising caseloads and service costs and the continuing burden on the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs to provide new therapies to people with HIV/AIDS make these increases inadequate.

Finally, HOPWA was once again level funded at $171 million. Each year 10 to 13 jurisdictions become eligible for HOPWA grants based on increases in caseload. Therefore, flat funding translates to significant cuts in funding despite this increasing need. Advocates must work extremely hard to obtain a funding increase for this program in Congress.

Watch for further details about the FY 1997 budget battle in upcoming TAN mailings.

Social Security and SSI Benefits Eliminated for Drug/Alcohol Cases
Last month, President Clinton signed into law a provision of the Social Security Act which eliminates benefit eligibility to anyone claiming disability for drug or alcohol addiction. This law takes effect immediately.

Anyone with a claim pending at any level will be notified within 90 days by the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the changes in the law. Anyone whose claim was favorably decided before March 29, 1996 will be notified that their benefits will be terminated as of January 1, 1997. People who have addiction as a part of their disability claim, but have other disabling conditions as well, will be allowed to reapply within 120 days of receiving the termination notice, and the SSA is required to make an initial redetermination of their disability by January 1, 1997. People with questions or concerns about this new regulation should contact their local Social Security office.

Stadtlanders Pharmacy to Create Cash Discount Card for Crixivan
Under pressure from treatment activists, including Project Inform, ACT UP/Philadelphia and ACT UP/Golden Gate, Stadtlanders Pharmacy, the largest distributor of Merck’s protease inhibitor Crixivan, has announced a discount plan for cash customers. Originally, Stadtlanders had proposed that its retail customers (all customers without insurance paying cash up front) would pay a price of $16.50 per day for Crixivan, compared with a $12.60–15 per day fee for customers whose insurers contract with Stadtlanders. So, the outcome was that customers without insurance would be paying the highest price for the drug.

After pressure from many activist groups, Stadtlanders has contracted with Community Prescription Service (800-842-0502) to allow cash customers to purchase a discount card for $18 per year which ensures them a price of $13.27 per day for Crixivan. Stadtlanders is expected to remain the primary distribution point for Crixivan for a period of about six months or until Merck states that production of the drug is stable. For more information, contact Project Inform’s Treatment Hotline at 800-822-7422.

Last Opportunity to Register for AIDSWATCH ’96
Project Inform is once again assisting with the coordination of AIDSWATCH, a three-day grassroots lobbying event in Washington, DC. This year, AIDSWATCH will be held from Sunday, May 19 through Tuesday, May 21 and will address many of the critical issues found in this update. If you are interested in attending this important event, please call Ryan Clary or Anne Donnelly as soon as possible at 415-558-8669.