Project Inform cited in the press

 

HOUSING WORKS AIDS ISSUES UPDATE—
Take Two Minutes to Remind
the Senate to Save Lives with ETHA

June 29, 2007: www.hwadvocacy.com
(mention of Project Inform in bold below)

AIDS advocates are renewing the push to get the Early Treatment for HIV Act passed and you can help.

Early Treatment for HIV Act(ETHA)would allow states to extend Medicaid coverage to include low-income people with HIV who have not yet become disabled by AIDS. That would mean critical early access to care. One study shows that ETHA would reduce the death rate for people with HIV on Medicaid by 50 percent. ETHA would also help relieve the financial burden on other programs, such as the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.

"We can't even begin to contemplate ending AIDS in the U.S. until everyone with the disease has full access to treatment and quality health care," said Ryan Clary, Project Inform's associate director of health care advocacy. "ETHA is a critical step toward a truly comprehensive approach to fighting the epidemic."

And ETHA has a fighting chance of being passed. "Given the renewed attention on the healthcare crisis in this country, I'm optimistic. All of the bill's authors, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, say that ETHA is one of their top priorities," Clary said. Pelosi (D-CA) is expected introduce ETHA in the House next month.

What can you do?
Call your two U.S. senators toll-free at 800-614-2803. You will get the Capitol Switchboard. Ask to be connected to your senator's office.

Once you reach your senator's office, ask to speak to the staff person who handles HIV or healthcare issues. Say you are a constituent and that you urge the senator to cosponsor S. 860, the Early Treatment for HIV Act. Tell the office why improving access to care/treatment for people with HIV is important to you or people you care about.

If your senator is a Republican, he or she should contact the office of Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) to sign. If he or she is a Democrat, the senator should contact the office of Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY).

If your senators are on the following list (after the jump), they have already cosponsored ETHA. Please take a minute to call and thank them for their leadership!