Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bay Area Reporter - November 10, 2005
Bob Roehr
The Early Treatment for HIV Act has been a long-sought goal of AIDS advocates. Under current regulations, low-income people must become so ill that they develop AIDS defining conditions of advanced disease in order to quality for life-saving AIDS drugs.
Making more people eligible for Medicaid, which is an entitlement program, also would help to reduce the burden on other programs, particularly the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which is part of the overall Ryan White CARE Act.
ETHA retains the low-income eligibility qualifications for Medicaid but would pay for treatment whenever guidelines suggest that therapy should be initiated.
Senators Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) reintroduced the measure earlier in the year and Smith proposed it as an amendment to the 2006 budget reconciliation bill. It passed on a voice vote, without opposition.
The measure sets up a five-year demonstration project of $450 million to enhance federal matches for states that extend Medicaid benefits to low-income persons infected with HIV.
"It's unacceptable that most patients must become disabled before they can qualify for Medicaid coverage," Smith said. "In Oregon, there are approximately 150 new HIV infections each year and we desperately need to provide these individuals with treatment."
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese praised Smith and Clinton for their leadership on ETHA. The organization had been one of the leaders in pushing for its enactment.
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