PI Action alerts & updates ... 2004
Final Push Needed to Protect People with AIDS in Medicare Drug
Regulations
Call Secretary Tommy Thompson on December 1
The HIV Medicaid/Medicare Working Group thanks everyone who made
public comment in response to the proposed Medicare prescription
drug bill regulations. We know that at least several hundred comments
were submitted addressing the needs of people with HIV/AIDS. Many
of the comments have been posted online, and you can read them at
www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/ecomments/commentspage.asp.
We are making one final push to make sure that the final regulations
make HIV a “special population.” This will help make
sure that the unique needs of HIV positive people are met, including
access to all drugs.
Please be a part of this effort and take a few minutes on December
1 to participate in a national call-in day!
How you can help:
On Wednesday, December 1, call the office of Health and Human Services
Secretary Tommy Thompson, and say:
Sample message:
“I am calling to urge Secretary Thompson to
treat people with HIV as a special population in the Medicare prescription
drug law regulations so people with AIDS can get the drugs they
need to stay alive.”
You can call either of the numbers below. You might be on hold
for a while using the toll-free number. Make sure you ask to be
directed to the Secretary’s office.
202-690-5400
877-696-6775
If you aren’t able to call on December 1, please make the
call as soon after as possible.
And when you’re done …
After you make this call, please also consider participating in
an action sponsored by global AIDS advocates focused on support
for the Global AIDS Fund. Go to www.healthgap.org/wad04alert.pdf
(PDF only) for more information.
Thank you for making a difference on World AIDS Day!
The HIV Medicaid/Medicare Working Group is a national coalition
of advocates working to protect and expand Medicaid and Medicare
for people living with HIV/AIDS. For more information about the
working group, please write to theaccessproject@aol.com.
