Health care advocacy

The Health Care Advocacy program seeks to protect and expand access to quality health care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. We focus on delivery of care and funding for public health care programs that serve the most vulnerable: those who are low-income and underinsured. These federally-funded services include HIV-specific programs such as the Ryan White CARE Act and broader health care programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.

For 2007, Project Inform established these priorities:

Medicaid: Ensure that Medicaid remains an entitlement program and advocate for sufficient funding. Codify prescription drugs as a mandatory Medicaid benefit. Support the Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA), which would allow states to expand their eligibility criteria to include low-income people living with HIV who have not yet become disabled. Work at the California state level and with other state advocates to protect state Medicaid programs.

Medicare: Support efforts to end the Medicare waiting period for people with HIV/AIDS. Continue monitor implementation of Medicare Part D and advocate for changes that would protect and better serve people with HIV/AIDS. Continue to educate service providers and people with HIV/AIDS on the complexities of the program. Address individual problems to ensure access to medications.

Ryan White CARE Act: Advocate for full funding for all parts of the Ryan White CARE Act, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Monitor implementation of the recently reauthorized CARE Act and educate the community about key changes.

Hepatitis C: Advocate for increased funding for federal hepatitis C programs and passage of the Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act.

California Health Care Issues: Ensure full funding of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Advocate for funding and legislation that will enhance the opportunities for more people to know their HIV status and to link with quality HIV care.

To advance our health care advocacy agenda, Project Inform participates in many coalitions including the HIV Medicaid/Medicare Working Group, the CAEAR Coalition, the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership, the Treatment Access Expansion Project, and the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnership.

In addition to our direct advocacy and coalition work, Project Inform engages in community organizing to ensure the voices of people living with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones are heard by elected officials and administrators of government programs. PI Action provides information, updates and assistance to a national grassroots network of people who call, write, and meet with their elected representatives to demand full access to health care for all people with HIV. Project Inform also helps organize constituent lobby days and assists with the development of advocacy trainings and materials.