Governor Enacts HIV/AIDS Prescription Drug, Perinatal Prevention Laws

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) thanks Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for signing legislation to coordinate Medicare Part D and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides medications for low-income people with HIV. The new law, P.A. 94-0909, will help about 200 people with HIV to transition from ADAP to the new Medicare Part D drug program. This legislation will maximize federal benefits for people in Illinois and reduce state prescription drug purchasing costs by almost 60%. Most importantly, it will keep ADAP available for people who have no other means of accessing life-saving HIV/AIDS medication. AFC commends State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) and State Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago) for sponsoring this legislation, and thanks the leadership of the Illinois Departments of Public Health (IDPH) and Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS) for working with AFC and our partners AIDS Legal Council of Chicago and Health and Disability Advocates to shape the new program. The law is effective January 1, 2007. A fact sheet is available here.

Governor Blagojevich also approved P.A. 94-0910 , which mandates HIV testing for newborns if their mother’s HIV status is unknown. If doctors administer antiretroviral drugs to HIV-positive women during pregnancy or to HIV-exposed newborns after birth, HIV infection of the newborn can be prevented in most cases. AFC and partners initially opposed the legislation because a voluntary program already in effect successfully helped 98% of mothers learn their HIV status. However, AFC dropped opposition when the sponsor agreed to include a number of provisions that will improve care for mothers and newborns who may be HIV-positive. IDPH issued a letter to providers on June 30 about the new law. More information is posted on AFC’s website.