Thousands of low-income, vulnerable Illinoisans are being incorrectly and wrongfully terminated from Medicaid because of computer glitches, but Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration refuses to share accurate and comprehensive data on how big the problem is.
Today, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) took a step to remedy this withholding of rightfully public information...
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By Ashley Brown
If you are on Medicaid in Illinois and have hepatitis C, be prepared to wait — potentially decades — for treatment. Illinois has a D-minus rating from the Hepatitis C State of Medicaid Access , the fifth lowest in the nation. Why such a low score? For one, Illinois Medicaid will only treat patients once they reach stage three or four of liver disease (the most...
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By Coleman Goode
On a dark May morning, I arrived at work before the sun was up fighting off nerves ahead of my first large Springfield Advocacy Day here at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC). Our mission: deliver over 100 advocates to the state capitol to advocate for a positive budget with their state legislators. Our message was clear: they need to fully fund HIV programs and...
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SPRINGFIELD, June 1, 2018 – Each year, May 31 marks the end of the Spring Legislative Session in Illinois. The Illinois General Assembly adjourned on Thursday, after a productive and effective Spring Session, a stark contrast to the past years.
The House and Senate passed a bi-partisan budget that received near unanimous support across the aisle and across chambers. There are high...
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Do you use a copay card to help pay for name-brand HIV drugs for treatment or PrEP? If you do, watch out: your insurance company might have a new policy that doesn’t let your copay card (a.k.a. your copay assistance card) help you afford your medications.
We’re talking about “copay accumulators” — policies some insurance companies are using that could make your...
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By Kirstin Brockenborough
Coleman Goode is our new Community Organizer! You may have most recently seen him around Springfield serving as Chief of Staff for long-time HIV advocate State Representative Greg Harris. We’re getting into who Coleman is and how he’s tackling health inequalities.
You can get to know Coleman and his plans for turning up our advocacy...
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By Andrea Callow, Associate Director of Medicaid Initiatives at Families USA
HHS has issued its first two approvals for state Medicaid waivers that make a person's health coverage contingent on their work status. Kentucky and Indiana are the first states to get approval for waivers that tie coverage to work. Other states that are seeking approval for similar waivers include New Hampshire,...
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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) applauds Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposed $25 million HIV funding allocation in the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) Illinois state budget.
“We thank Gov. Rauner for his leadership in not cutting HIV funding,” said John Peller, AFC president/CEO. “Earlier this month, AFC expressed disappointment with Gov. Rauner and the Illinois Department...
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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is deeply concerned by the Rauner Administration’s unilateral decision to not spend $9.7 million in approved HIV funding that was appropriated by the Illinois state legislature in FY 18, without any public disclosure or notification of this decision. In its response to a recent Freedom of Information Act request filed by AFC, the Illinois Department...
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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is proud to announce the 12 organizations selected to receive non-medical case management funding to serve people living with HIV throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Organizations will be receiving funding through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which distributes $2.3 billion nationwide to fund services specifically for people living with HIV. This funding...
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