PI Action alerts & updates ... 2004
Project Inform Advocacy Update
August 2004
In this Issue
Welcome!
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) “Relief”
Helps Some, Raises Some Concerns
California HIV/AIDS Budget
California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) Update
Medicare Drug Law Implementation Issues
International AIDS Report – Infections Increasing,
Funding Woefully Short
Project Inform’s Research Advocacy Priorities
Check This Out
Quote of the Month
Welcome!
This is the first edition of the Project Inform Advocacy
Update! Our goal is to bring you the latest information on Project
Inform’s public policy, research and treatment advocacy work.
Project Inform also coordinates Treatment Action Network (TAN),
a nationwide network of individuals taking action on the policies
that affect their lives. TAN subscribers automatically receive these
updates.
Have your friends and colleagues sign up by emailing tan@projectinform.org.
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AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
“Relief” Helps Some, Raises Some Concerns
Last June, President Bush announced that $20 million would be released
to assist those on waiting lists for the ADAP in 10 states. This
stop-gap measure provides relief for many of those currently on
waiting lists, but does not address the root of the ADAP crisis,
which is inadequate federal and state funding. On the positive side,
the grassroots campaign to call attention to the crisis has been
successful in increasing awareness and drawing the attention of
the administration.
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California HIV/AIDS Budget
Project Inform continues to take a leadership role in ensuring that
HIV/AIDS programs, particularly the California ADAP, receive adequate
state and federal funding. Along with our partners and advocates
from around the state, Project Inform converged on Sacramento last
spring for the Save ADAP rally and lobby day. This action highlighted
a series of advocacy efforts that resulted in the rejection of the
governor’s proposal to cap the program and establish a waiting
list that would have been the largest in the nation. Click
here for further details.
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California Medi-Cal Update
California’s fiscal crisis and the election of a new governor
created a focus on public spending. Although the state’s Medicaid
program (Medi-Cal) has one of the lowest per beneficiary spending
levels in the country, it too has come under scrutiny.
The Administration announced its intention to redesign Medi-Cal,
with an eye to cutting costs. It may seek a waiver from the U.S.
government that would limit federal contributions and impose dramatically
increased patients that would make care unaffordable for most beneficiaries.
The full proposal should be released in January 2005. A Medi-Cal
waiver could have negative implications for people with HIV/AIDS
and others who rely on Medi-Cal for their healthcare. Project Inform
has been involved in the public input process and will continue
to advocate for Medi-Cal redesign that allows beneficiaries access
to comprehensive, affordable, quality healthcare. Concerns and recommendations
will be posted on Project Inform’s website next month.
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Medicare Drug Law Implementation Issues
The new Medicare prescription drug benefit law contains provisions
of great concern to beneficiaries with HIV/AIDS. Many could actually
lose some current coverage under this benefit and others could find
the benefit inadequate or unaffordable. The Bush Administration
first needs to create regulations that detail how the bill will
be implemented, providing an opportunity to address these concerns.
Project Inform, as a member of the HIV Medicare/Medicaid Work Group,
is working to ensure that the new benefit better meets the needs
of those with HIV/AIDS when it is implemented in 2006. The group’s
Steering Committee sent
a letter and memo to key administrative officials and legislators
making recommendations on what should be included in the regulations
to protect people with HIV/AIDS.
Unfortunately, many recommendations are not included in the official
proposed regulations recently released by the Administration.
Strong public comment will be necessary. Project Inform will comment
on the regulations in concert with the Work Group and mount a letter
writing campaign through TAN, allowing individuals to respond. Comments
are due by October 4. To subscribe to TAN, email tan@projectinform.org.
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International AIDS Report –
Infections Increasing, Funding Woefully Short
In a recent
report on the global AIDS pandemic, the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) warned that the number of people
living with HIV has risen in every region of the world. In 2003:
- 5 million people became infected with HIV, more than any previous
year
- 38 million people are living with HIV
- 3 million people died
The report also addresses bottlenecks preventing effective spending
of funds. At the last International AIDS Conference, UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan urged the U.S. to make a commitment to ending
global HIV/AIDS similar to its commitment to fighting terrorism,
recommending it give $1 billion annually to the Global Fund for
AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. The Fund has already delayed a call
for new proposals because of insufficient donations. For Fiscal
Year 2005, the Bush administration is seeking 64% LESS than the
amount granted to the Fund this year ($200 million compared to $540
million).
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Project Inform’s Research Advocacy
Priorities
The July 2004 issue of PI Perspective has an overview of our treatment
and research advocacy goals. Examples of strategies employed
to facilitate research toward a cure for AIDS include:
- Facilitating scientific collaborations and the sharing of ideas,
- Increasing the efficiency of networks that conduct clinical
HIV research, and
- Removing roadblocks to expedite discovery and research on novel
and emerging therapies.
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Check This Out
AIDSvote.org is
a joint project of dozens of HIV/AIDS service, advocacy and research
organizations. Check out the domestic and global HIV/AIDS platforms
and see the candidates’ responses. Get the latest election
year advocacy news and add your individual and organizational endorsements
to the list.
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Quote of the Month
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising
every time we fall.”
– Confucius
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