Policy Issues

APLA’s Government Affairs Division is engaged in shaping policy issues such as clean needle exchange to reduce HIV transmissions; the advancement of the Early Treatment of HIV Act (ETHA); the continued availability of life-saving HIV medicines through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP); and the redesign of California’s Medi-Cal program. APLA Government Affairs staff continue to be actively involved in the policy-making process and to educate elected officials regarding the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Among the current policy issues affecting people with HIV/AIDS are:

The Ryan White CARE Act. One of the most important pieces of HIV-related legislation in our nation’s history, the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act addresses the unmet health needs of people living with HIV/AIDS by funding primary health care and support services. The CARE Act is the payer of last resort, filling gaps in care faced by the more than 533,000 people living with HIV/AIDS who have low incomes and little or no insurance. Flat-funding of the CARE Act in recent years, coupled with the rising cost of health care, has raised concerns among advocates.

Read a Press Release from AIDS Action

Ryan White Care Act Summary - PDF

Medi-Cal. Medicaid is the largest source of federal financing for HIV/AIDS care in the United States. The program provides health care for 55 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS, and 90 percent of all children living with AIDS. California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, is one of the most cost-effective in the nation, providing health care services to 6.7 million Californians annually. Despite this, a Medi-Cal Redesign that could drastically affect the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS is underway.

Housing. The Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) Program was established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1992 to address the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Another crucial housing component for people living with HIV/AIDS is the Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Section 8), which provides subsidies to make housing affordable, freeing up family income for other vital needs such as food, medicine or transportation. Although Section 8 has received increases in appropriations over the last few years, changes to its implementation are currently underway that could potentially limit funding for housing for all clients, including people with HIV/AIDS.

AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Funded under Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act, ADAP provides free medications for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections. ADAP requires states with specified HIV prevalence rates to match federal funding for this program. Although ADAP has received increased appropriations in recent years, additional funding is needed at both the state and federal levels to ensure adequate drug coverage for all low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS. In January 2005, 12 states reported having one or more restrictions to their ADAP programs, including capped enrollment, reduced drug formularies or limited antiretroviral access.

ADAP Summary - PDF

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