PI Action alerts & updates ... 2000

Historic Opportunity to Expand Medicaid Coverage
to Include People Living with HIV

Congress is considering including the “Early Treatment for HIV Act” in legislation before it adjourns for the year. Your help is needed immediately!!

The Early Treatment for HIV Act (H.R. 1591), introduced by Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Richard Gephardt (D-MO), would give states the option to extend Medicaid coverage to uninsured low-income people living with HIV. Under current rules, most people living with HIV are ineligible for Medicaid until they reach the Social Security definition of disability, which generally includes an AIDS diagnosis and disabling symptoms. If states wish to cover people living with HIV who haven’t reached this definition under their Medicaid programs, they have to apply for a Medicaid waiver. That process is lengthy and burdensome.

H.R. 1591 eliminates the need for a waiver and allows states to include people living with HIV in their Medicaid program by adding HIV as an eligible category for Medicaid coverage. People would still have to meet the income requirements of their state Medicaid program.

New HIV/AIDS treatments, such as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), coupled with access to comprehensive HIV medical care are successfully delaying the progression from HIV infection to AIDS. Quality HIV care and carefully monitored treatment options are improving health and quality of life for many people living with HIV. However, these advances are out of reach for low-income people who cannot afford health care and treatment. Expanding Medicaid services to include low-income people living with HIV can delay progression to disability and prolong survival.

Congress is currently considering including the provisions of the Early Treatment for HIV Act in either the Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, also known as the “Balanced Budget Give-Back Bill” (H.R. 5291) or some other piece of legislation that is moving through Congress. Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) is leading efforts to pass a similar bill in the Senate. If this language is included in another bill, it would most likely guarantee passage.

This is all taking place in the next couple of weeks so your immediate action is essential!

Treatment Action Network (TAN) members have been active in helping expand access to treatment through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). This action would help people who are not able to afford the health care necessary to treat HIV disease effectively.

Action needed:
Call or email your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators immediately. Because of the timeliness of this issue, phone calls to their DC office are most effective. Many legislators’ staff do not check email on a regular basis. If you call your representative’s district office, ask for your message to be conveyed to the DC office immediately.

Message:

“I urge Representative/Senator _____________________ to support the inclusion of the Early Treatment for HIV Act (currently known as H.R. 1591) in the Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act (H.R. 5291) or other legislation being considered by Congress. Extending Medicaid to low income people living with HIV is a cost-effective way to help people avoid progressing to a disabling AIDS diagnosis.”

Be personal in your message! If you or someone you care about would benefit from expansion of Medicaid to include people living with HIV, let your elected officials know!

Key Members of Congress:
The following Members of Congress will play a key role in final decisions on this bill. If any of them are your representative, it is particularly important that you contact them and encourage others in your district/state to do the same!!

Senator William Roth (R-DE), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee
Representative Thomas Bliley (R-VA), Chair of the House Commerce Committee
Representative John Dingell (D-MI), Ranking Member of the House Commerce Committee

Thank you’s:
The following Members of Congress have worked hard to develop and advocate for this legislation. If any of them represent you, please thank them for their leadership!

Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Representative Richard Gephardt (D-MO)
Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
You can reach your Senators and Representative through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Another good website with contact information is www.capweb.net.

Please forward this Alert to your friends, family, co-workers, etc.!