In 2005, AFC will pursue an aggressive federal policy agenda to reinvigorate science-based HIV prevention and meet the medical and social service needs of Americans with HIV/AIDS.

Reauthorize and adequately fund the Ryan White CARE Act — After Medicaid, the CARE Act is the most important source of federal funding for HIV-related medical and social services. More than 500,000 Americans with HIV/AIDS receive vital CARE Act services, including more than 10,000 Illinoisans. In 2005, AFC will join AIDS advocates nationwide in calling on Congress to preserve the CARE Act's community planning model and current structure in reauthorization legislation. Local communities should continue to determine the appropriate mix of HIV medical and social services for their jurisdictions. AFC will also call on Congress to adequately fund the program, reversing two consecutive years of funding cuts for core program services. AFC asks Congress to:

• Preserve the CARE Act's current structure, which funds a comprehensive array of HIV-related medical and social services determined at the local level.
• Enhance the CARE Act's reach in underserved and rural communities.
• Strengthen the purchasing power of state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs by allowing states to receive the lowest available federal price for HIV-related medications.
• Fully fund CARE Act programs: CARE Act funding has not kept pace with the growth of the epidemic. An estimated $500 million increase is needed to adequately meet the treatment and service needs of low-income, uninsured people with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.

Protect the entitlement status of Medicaid and adequately fund prevention and research — AFC urges Congress to:

• Reject the White House proposal to dramatically reduce Medicaid funding through block-grants. More than half of all people with AIDS in the U.S. rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. With less federal funding, states will be forced to limit Medicaid enrollment and/or reduce benefits.
• Invest an additional $386 million for science-based HIV prevention programs in order to decrease the more than 40,000 new HIV infections that occur annually in the U.S. Congress should also approve an additional $170 million for addictions treatment services to stem drug-related HIV infections.
• Address the housing needs of low-income people with HIV/AIDS by adding $103 million for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program, and reject the administration's call for severe funding cuts to this and other federal housing programs.
• Increase funding for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue the search for an effective HIV vaccine, microbicide, and cure.

Enact HIV-Related Legislation and Policy — AFC urges members of Congress to:

• Co-sponsor the Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA) and the Microbicide Development Act. ETHA allows states the option to cover non-disabled people with HIV under their Medicaid programs. The Microbicide Development Act creates a new NIH office to coordinate research across various departments in order to speed the development of new, anti-HIV topical products.
• Pursue policy changes to ensure that Medicare recipients, including people with HIV, receive the prescription drug coverage they need to safeguard their health. People dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, including an estimated 60,000 with HIV, will lose their more comprehensive Medicaid drug coverage at the end of 2005 unless action is taken.

< Back Next >

Printable Document (PDF)

Introduction

The Intersection of HIV/AIDS & Prisons

Illinois must Address HIV/AIDS in Prisons

State Policy Priorities

Federal Policy Priorities

HIV/AIDS in Illinois

Additional HIV/AIDS statistics