PRNewswire - October 26, 2004

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS organization in the US, which treats nearly 6,000 Californians living with HIV, applauds the efforts of Governor Schwarzenegger, during his first year in office, in fighting for the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS. Since beginning his term nearly one-year ago, the Governor has taken favorable action on a number of items that will benefit both the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS throughout California.

As one of his first actions in office, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 685 (Leno, D, San Francisco) into law. This piece of legislation, sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, is a cost saving measure intended to jumpstart stalled rapid HIV testing programs by streamlining training for HIV testing counselors. "Getting people tested and into treatment is a crucial step in addressing HIV/AIDS as a public health issue," said Karen Mall, Director of Prevention and Testing for AHF. "AB 685 will allow for HIV testing counselors to receive comprehensive training without the bureaucratic red tape that currently surrounds the system. The new requirements under this law will increase the accessibility and ease of rapid-HIV counseling and testing for all Californians."

In the Governor's 'May Revise' of the budget, he took two important steps to help guarantee access to quality medical treatment for Californians living with HIV/AIDS. The Governor increased the budget for the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) by 13%, adding an additional $27 million to the program. This budget supplement came at the demand of AIDS advocates from around the state who protested the proposed enrollment cap to the program.

Governor Schwarzenegger heard the concerns of the advocates, and took the issue off the table -- ensuring that California, despite financial hardships, would protect essential programs for HIV/AIDS treatment. In addition, the governor agreed to $4 million specifically earmarked for viral load and HIV resistance testing. Last year, $7 million was cut from the $8 million Therapeutic Monitoring Program (TMP) budget. The 300% increase approved by the Governor ensures that all patients enrolled in ADAP will have their drug regimens closely monitored by diagnostic tests to make certain that the their regimens are working and the care that they receive is the most effective.

At the end of this year's legislative session, Governor Schwarzenegger signed two important bills into law that will have an impact on HIV/AIDS in California. SB 1159 (Vasconsellos, D, Santa Clara), which creates a disease prevention demonstration project allowing individuals to purchase up to 10 hypodermic needles and syringes without a prescription; and AB 1367 (Steinberg/Laird), co-sponsored by AHF, which creates a pilot project for AIDS pharmacies to provide additional medication management services for people living with HIV/AIDS in California; the measure allocates up to $1.5 million to pay for these extra services. "By signing the syringe bill (SB 1159), a controversial yet, pragmatic public health measure, the governor illustrates his aim to try and reduce the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C," said Jessie Gruttadauria, Associate Director of Government Affairs, California for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "And with signing of the pharmacy bill (AB 1367), the governor acknowledges that specialized care for people living with HIV -- though a costly process that involves more time and attention from care providers -- is crucial and indispensable to the patients' well-being."

Michael Weinstein, President of AHF, went onto say, "although we are encouraged by a number of the Governor's actions this year with respect to HIV/AIDS issues, we want to let him know that there is still a lot of work to be done. Prices for prescription drugs are still much too high, and he chose to veto all of the importation bills that would have allowed Californians to access cheaper drugs from Canada. There is a serious problem with the drug companies' lack of transparency with respect to drug pricing and rebates. There are still a lot of issues to be taken up at the state level, and we look forward to working with the Governor in the year ahead to ensure access to quality healthcare for all those living with HIV/AIDS."

SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation

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