Testimony presented by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) last week before the Illinois House Human Services Appropriations Committee aimed to show how Illinois' Medicaid redetermination efforts could have a significant impact on people living with HIV across the state.
Director of Government Affairs Dan Frey presented his testimony on March 3 and argued that Medicaid redetermination efforts are needed, but warned against the process "erecting unnecessary barriers that prevent eligible recipients from accessing care."
Frey argued that making Medicaid services easily accessible and barrier-free in Illinois would not only help individuals living with HIV stay in care more easily, but it would also prevent new HIV infections, as modern HIV medications can reduce the chance of an HIV-positive person sharing the virus with someone who is HIV-negative by 96%.
