AEGiS-PRn: Governor Wilson Vetoes SB 1035 Polanco-authored Bill Would Have Expanded MEDI-CAL Coverage to HIV Positive; Goal Was to Pull HIV Positive Californians into Treatment Lifeboat Before Onset of Full Disability: Polanco, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Other Sponsors Vow to Re-introduce Bill in 1998

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Governor Wilson Vetoes SB 1035 Polanco-authored Bill Would Have Expanded MEDI-CAL Coverage to HIV Positive; Goal Was to Pull HIV Positive Californians into Treatment Lifeboat Before Onset of Full Disability: Polanco, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Other Sponsors Vow to Re-introduce Bill in 1998

PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Friday October 10 6:50 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- In a setback to HIV positive Californians and AIDS advocates throughout the state, Governor Pete Wilson yesterday vetoed Senate Bill 1035, legislation by Senator Richard Polanco (D, Los Angeles) that would have helped expand Medi-Cal eligibility to HIV positive Californians before they progressed to a full disability AIDS diagnosis.

"We are dismayed at the Governor's shortsightedness," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which sponsored the bill. "Vetoing this bill will harm people who are afraid of losing their Medi-Cal benefits, because they no longer fit the AIDS disability criteria set up by the State of California."

In explaining his veto yesterday, Governor Wilson said, "This bill is premature."

"Premature? Over 65,000 Californians have died of AIDS since 1981. "What is the Governor waiting for?" asked Senator Polanco.

"A few weeks ago, Governor Wilson vetoed my bill to ban Saturday night specials. He said he wanted to make sure poor people have access to guns. Now, he vetoes SB 1035 which would have ensured that people without health insurance get life-saving AIDS treatments. Wilson's message to the poor is: I will fight for your access to guns but not life-saving AIDS treatments," Polanco stated.

AHF and other advocates strongly believe that with the decrease in AIDS related deaths and the overwhelming amount of people with HIV/AIDS responding to new treatments, this timely bill would have ensured access to early medical treatment and life saving drugs to the HIV community.

Senator Polanco, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and SB 1035's other sponsors vow to re-introduce the bill in 1998.

Community organizations in support of SB 1035 include: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the nation's largest HIV/AIDS medical provider; The Center (San Diego), AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), Clinica Para Las Americas, Being Alive (Los Angeles), Foothill AIDS Project, LIFE Lobby, The Lambda Letters Project, East Valley Community Clinic, Bienestar Latino AIDS Project and Tuesday's Child.

Editorials in support were written by the Palms Springs Desert Sun, the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News.

AHF serves close to 5,000 Greater Los Angeles patients at 4 out-patient health care centers, 2 residential facilities; the WomensCare Center; through Positive Healthcare, the first AIDS specific managed care program in the nation; through TREATMENT=LIFE division, the WEHO Lounge, AHF's coffee house/HIV testing & information center, and through AHF's Research and Pharmacy Divisions.

To follow up on SB 1035, please call Cesar Portillo, AHF Government Affairs Director; 213-860-5202; Jessie Gruttadauria, AHF Government Affairs Manager, 213-860-5203; for general information on AIDS Healthcare Foundation or to followup on this press release, please call Tony Schulte, AHF Communications Coordinator, 213-860-5224; or Ged Kenslea, AHF Community Relations Director, 213-860-5225.

SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation

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