Updated comments from AFC president/CEO on Medicaid plan to address HIV
 
New comments from interim President/CEO John Peller on a new Medicaid plan advanced by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn were released on March 10. This plan will include an HIV-specific provision that will improve care for people living with HIV.
 
This provision was included in response to concerted advocacy by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and its allies, including State Reps. Greg Harris, La Shawn Ford, and Sara Feigenholtz.
 
The provision is included in a proposed 1115 waiver developed by Governor Quinn and his team. The proposal, which must be approved by the federal government, would allow the state to make changes to the Medicaid program. The goal is to obtain additional federal funding for health and social services, improve care coordination, boost the health care workforce, enhance supports for people living in the community, and improve population health.
 
The waiver was open for several rounds of public comments in which 85 organizations submitted nearly a thousand comments or recommendations. AFC previously submitted two sets of comments; a third set released on March 10 can be reviewed here.