2006 Policy Priorities:
Bringing an End to AIDS

2006 State Policy Priorities

1. Ensure Access to Life-Saving HIV/AIDS Medications and Care: In order to maintain continuity of care for current clients and help more people needing assistance, AFC is calling on state lawmakers to increase AIDS treatment funding by $7 million in FY07. In particular, AFC is calling for an additional $6 million state appropriation for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and a $1 million appropriation to assist HIV-positive Medicare beneficiaries through the Illinois Cares Rx program.

ADAP: For more than a decade, Illinois’ ADAP has helped HIV-positive state residents stay healthy and productive. Jointly funded by state and federal sources, the program assists people who lack adequate income and prescription drug coverage to obtain life-extending HIV-related medications. Without new funding to sustain the program, increases in enrollment, program utilization, and medication costs will make ADAP insolvent in FY07. In addition, new resources will be needed to provide HIV-related treatments for individuals who learn their HIV-positive status as a result of the state’s Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV (BASUAH) initiative and other HIV testing campaigns.

Illinois Cares Rx: Medicare’s new prescription drug program offers the state one way to lower future ADAP costs. By expanding the Illinois Cares Rx program to meet the medication needs of HIV-positive Medicare beneficiaries, the state could shift significant future costs from ADAP to the federal Medicare program. The state would spend 63% less per HIV-positive Medicare beneficiary by shifting costs from ADAP to Illinois Cares Rx (formerly known as Circuit Breaker).

Medicaid: During the fall Veto Session, the Illinois General Assembly authorized the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Public Aid) to implement a Medicaid Primary Care Case Management (PCCM) system. AFC urges the state to contract with the existing network of HIV case managers and primary care specialists in order to ensure the specialized needs of people with HIV are met. With access to HIV specialty care and services, people living with HIV/AIDS will achieve better health outcomes and save the state money by needing fewer emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations.

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Introduction

State Policy Priorities

Treatment Access

HIV Prevention

HIV and Incarceration

Federal Policy Priorities

Healthcare for PWAs

Science-Based Prevention

Housing

Illinois Statistics

Additional Statistics