HIV Advocacy 101 National, Regional, and Local

How Can You Impact the Debate?

ViiV Healthcare HIV Community SummitWashington, DC October 8, 2010

Donna Crews, Director Government Affairs AIDS Action Council

Agenda

•Federal Issues – Appropriations bills– AIDS Drug Assistance Program– Federal Funds for Syringe Exchange– National HIV/AIDS Strategy

•How to Research the Issues

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“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most

shocking and inhumane.”Martin Luther King, Jr.

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FY 10 AppropriationsFY 11 Appropriations

• The HIV community has worked for increases in funding for domestic HIV programs for --HIV prevention programs

HIV care and treatment – Ryan White CARE ActAIDS Drug Assistance ProgramNational Institutes of Health fundingMinority AIDS Initiative funding

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FY 10 AppropriationsFY 11 Appropriations

• HIV prevention programs $30 million included in FY 10 Prevention and Public Health Fund in the Affordable Care Act$35 million added to President’s revised budget request for FY 11Advocates must work to get the Administration’s FY 11 increased request included in the Congressional appropriations processAdvocates must also work to get HIV prevention funding included in the FY 11 Prevention and Public Health Fund in the Affordable Care Act

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FY 10 AppropriationsFY 11 Appropriations

• HIV care and treatment – Ryan White CARE Act

• Advocates continue to ask for increases in all parts of the CARE Act

– AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)• Advocates continue to ask for increased funding for ADAP• Administration “found” $25 m for FY 10 emergency funds• Congress Appropriations request $50 million increase - FY 11• Administration revises budget request from $20 million increase to $50

million increase

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Expanding Coverage and Increasing Access to Quality Care

• AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) counts toward Medicare Part D’s True Out of Pocket (TrOOP) costs, starting in 2011.

• Eliminates the Medicare Part D drug benefit coverage gap, the “doughnut hole,” by 2020 In 2010, enrollees in the doughnut hole receive $250

rebate. In 2011, enrollees receive 50% discount on name-brand

drugs.

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Access to Federal Funding for Syringe Exchange Programs

Grassroots advocates worked for years to lobby Congress to allow federal funds to be used for syringe exchange programs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines for FY 10 funding.

CDC guidance will be forthcoming for FY 11 funding

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National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS)

• A group of advocates lead the charge for the NHAS in 2007 for all Presidential candidates

• Presidential candidates Obama and McCain agreed to implement a NHAS

• In July President Obama released his National HIV/AIDS Strategy that was informed by meetings across the country.

• The implementation plan still needs the input of the community to attain the stated goals.

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National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS)

• The Office of National AIDS Policy at the White House has been charged with organizing the all agencies in the implementation of the strategy.www.whitehouse.gov/onapThe community maintains a coalition and a website to monitor the strategy at Coalition for a National AIDS Strategy -

http://nationalaidsstrategy.org

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Resources

• www.thomas.gov – to find Members of Congress– Check their voting records– Find out what bills they have introduced or co-sponsored– Find their office address both Washington and in the district– Learn staff members names

• Sign up for list servs at national HIV organizations and HIV organization in your local jurisdications

• www.aidsaction.org

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Acknowledgments:AIDS Action Council Staff

• Rebecca Haago Executive Director

• Ronald Johnsono Deputy Director

• Donna Crewso Director Government Affairs

• William McCollo Political Director

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Contact informationDonna CrewsDirector of Government AffairsAIDS Action

1424 K Street, NWSuite 200Washington, D.C. 20005202-408-4848 x 248202-595-4165 celldcrews@aidsaction.org

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Questions & Answers Discussion

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