House-Approved Health Reform Strengthen Fight Against HIV/AIDS

November 18, 2009 3:02 PM

"With the passage of the health insurance reform bill last week in the House, we have scored a major victory in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Provisions in the bill benefit the hundreds of thousands of people who are infected with HIV/AIDS by affording them better access to care and relieving them of the burden of having to pay out-of-pocket the entire cost of expensive medication and treatment.

"People living with HIV/AIDS rely heavily on prescription drugs to remain healthy, and an estimated 100,000 of them rely on Medicare for their medical treatment and prescription drugs. But due to the high costs of their medicines and treatments, HIV/AIDS patients reach the 'doughnut hole' quicker than other Americans on Medicare. The doughnut hole is the Medicare Part D coverage gap that Americans face once they surpass the coverage limit, making them financially responsible for the entire cost of prescription drugs until the expense reaches the catastrophic coverage threshold. Many patients use state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) for help purchasing their medications while in the coverage gap. The bill would allow medication provided through ADAP to count towards out-of-pocket costs in the Medicare Part D 'doughnut hole.'

"It also ensures early access to care and treatment for people living with HIV by giving states the option of an enhanced federal match if they choose to cover people with HIV in their existing Medicaid programs. In participating states, people with HIV would qualify for coverage using the same eligibility standards that currently apply for disabled adults. These common sense approaches will provide relief to Americans living with this disease, at a time when they need it most."