In the news ... 2007
PI ACTION UPDATE
July 2007
In this issue
Medicare Part D Update
Key Subcommittees Underfund HIV Care and Treatment
Congress Moves Forward With ETHA
Hepatitis C Policy Update
California State Advocacy Update
New California AIDS Chief Appointed
A Website We Like
Medicare Part D Update
Halfway through the second year of the Medicare Part D prescription
drug benefit, advocates continue to try to reduce the barriers faced
by people with HIV/AIDS and other Medicare beneficiaries, particularly
those who are low income and/or disabled. Advocates for people with
HIV/AIDS are working with the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services,
Congress, State Legislatures, Governors and Agencies to ensure affordable
and accessible prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D.
You can read this comprehensive update with announcements, information
about recent Congressional hearings, status of legislation and new
reports issued on Medicare Part D. You can also read the 2007 legislative
agenda of the HIV Medicaid and Medicare Work Group.
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Key Subcommittees Underfund HIV Care and
Treatment
Last month, Congress started the process of determining
funding levels for HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs. On June
7, the House Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations
Subcommittee voted for a $99 million increase in Fiscal Year 2008
funding for the Ryan White Program, including a $41.5 increase for
the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The full House Appropriations
Committee is expected to vote in early July. A breakdown of this
$99 million increase is available on Project Inform's website.
On June 19, the Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee voted on its version
of the Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations bill and approved only a
$33.6 million increase for Ryan White, including a $25 million increase
for ADAP. The full Senate Appropriations Committee voted for the
same funding levels two days later. Go here to read the breakdown
of this increase.
While any increase in care and treatment money is necessary and
appreciated, these funding levels fall well short of what is needed
for the Ryan White Program to fulfill its promise of acting as a
safety net for people who have no other way of getting services.
ADAP alone needs a $232 million increase to meet need. It is also
disappointing that neither the House nor the Senate Subcommittee
voted to increase funding for all parts of Ryan White. Project Inform
will continue to advocate for full funding of the entire Ryan White
Program as the appropriations process continues.
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Congress Moves Forward With ETHA
With funding for discretionary programs like Ryan White
not keeping up with the need, the Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA)
is more important than ever. This bill would give states the option
to expand their Medicaid program to include low-income people with
HIV/AIDS who are not yet disabled. It would also provide extra funding
to states to help serve this new population. Enactment of ETHA would
help relieve Ryan White programs struggling to meet the needs of
people who could be covered by Medicaid.
In March, Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
introduced S. 860, the Senate version of ETHA. This bill currently
has 30 cosponsors.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY)
and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) are expected to introduce the House
version of ETHA in early July. Project Inform continues to work
with our advocacy colleagues, including the Treatment Access Expansion
Project and the HIV Medicaid/Medicare Working Group to pass this
bill.
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Hepatitis C Policy Update
Project Inform's Health Care Advocacy program recently
expanded to include hepatitis C (HCV) funding and legislative issues.
In coalition with the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnership, we
are advocating for an $11 million increase in federal funding to
help states with HCV testing and education programs. Despite these
efforts, both the House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees
voted for flat funding for viral hepatitis programs.
It is clear that a strong grassroots effort will be needed to convince
Congress to take leadership on the HCV epidemic. Project Inform
is working with our partners to develop a national grassroots network
focused on securing the money needed to mount a true fight against
hepatitis C. The network will also advocate for passage of the "Hepatitis
C Control and Prevention Act," a bill that would establish
a comprehensive federal HCV prevention and research program. This
bill was introduced in the House and Senate in May.
Contact Ryan Clary at rclary@projectinform.org if you are interested
in joining this new hepatitis C grassroots network.org. Click here
to read more about Project Inform's expansion to include HCV advocacy.
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California State HIV/AIDS Budget Update
The California state budget process for Fiscal Year 2007-2008
is close to completion. In January, the California HIV Alliance
issued its budget request. An update on the progress of the Alliance
request and the California budget is available here.
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New California AIDS Chief Appointed
On June 21, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Dr.
Michelle Roland to the post of Chief of the State Office of AIDS.
She is a skilled HIV/AIDS clinician with a genuine understanding
of the needs of low-income, vulnerable people living with the disease.
She is also a respected researcher on the cutting edge of HIV disease
treatment and has participated on the Medical Advisory Committee
of the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Before Dr. Roland entered
medical school, she was a valued HIV/AIDS activist. Her long and
varied involvement in fighting the epidemic demonstrates a true
commitment to people with HIV.
Project Inform looks forward to working with Dr. Roland to advance
the essential care, treatment and prevention programs that serve
Californians affected by HIV/AIDS. We also thank the Governor for
thoughtfully selecting such an outstanding person to lead the State
Office of AIDS.
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A Website We Like
The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. is a national non
profit, non-partisan organization that provides education, advocacy,
and legal assistance to help older people and people with disabilities
obtain Medicare and necessary health care. The Center's diverse
staff allows them to offer consultation, training, presentations
and materials on a wide array of topics.
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